Shireen Pulao / Shirin Plov / Shirin Polo / Shirin Polow / Şirin Plov / شیرین پلو / شیریں پلاؤ

Shireen Pulao is a very very popular dish of Iran and Azerbaijan. Shireen Pulao is made with chicken and sweetened with sugar and nuts and dry fruits. It is a very delicious and eye appealing dish. There is a very small difference between the Irani and Azerbaijani version. In Iran orange zest, grated carrot, are used with sugar syrup and nuts and dry fruits,  while in Azerbaijan dates, dry apricots are used with sugar syrup and nuts and other dry fruits. 

Şirin Plov

Ingredients For Chicken Curry:

• Chicken boneless cubes/breast fillets  1 kg
• Oil 1 cup
• Onion chopped 1
• Ginger paste 1 teaspoon (optional)
• Garlic paste 1 teaspoon (optional)
• Yoghurt 1 cup (optional)
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper whole 1 teaspoon
• Cinnamon sticks 3-4 pieces
• Cardamom small  6
• Cloves  10

Procedure for Chicken Curry:

• Fry onion in oil till golden brown.
• Add ginger garlic pastes if using.
• Add spices fry for 1 minute then add chicken pieces fry for 3 minutes (Add yoghurt at this stage if using and fry for 5-6 minutes) then lower the flame and cook till chicken is tender.
• Chicken Curry is ready for Shireen Pulao.

Ingredients For Rice:

• Fine quality Rice 1/2 kg
• Salt 1 and 1/2 teaspoon
• Water  4-5 glass

Procedure For Boiled Rice:

• Boil Rice in water and salt till almost cook.
• Drain and keep aside.

Colouring:

• Saffron 1/4 teaspoon
• Warm milk  1/4 cup
• Add saffron to warm milk, stir and aside.

Nuts and Dry Fruits and Sugar Syrup :

• Pistachio  1 tablespoon
• Almonds 1 tablespoon
• Raisin  1 tablespoon
• Dry dates seedless/pitted  8-10
• Dry Apricot seedless/pitted   8-10
• Dry Plum    6
• Sugar  1 cup
• Carrot grated 1
• Orange zest/peel from orange, fine strips

Procedure:

• Boil orange peels in 1-2 cup water. Darin.
• Now in 1 cup water add sugar, boiled orange zest, grated carrot and all the nuts and dry fruits and cook on medium flame till a thick syrup is obtained.

Now all the materials are ready to cook Shireen Pulao.

 1 tablespoon melted butter will also be needed for garnish.

1. Take a large pan , arrange bottom layer of cooked chicken curry.
2. Spread over it boiled rice.
3. Sprinkle at this rice layer prepared Saffron Colour and melted butter 1 tablespoon.
4. On top layer spread prepared nut and dry fruits sugar syrup.
5. Simmer for  20 minutes.
6. Delicious Shireen Pulao is Ready to Serve.
7. Serve with grilled tomatoes using butter.

Kelem / Kələm Dolması (Azerbaijan Stuffed Cabbage) آذربائجان بھرواں بند گوبھی / کیلم

Kelem is the National dish of Azerbaijan. It is very taste and tangy. Cabbage is filled with minced meat and then steamed.

Kelem Azerbaijani

Ingredients:

• Minced Chicken  1/2 kg
• oil 1 tablespoon
• Onion chopped 1
• Tomatoes chopped 2
• Rice soaked in little water 1/4 cup
• Butter  2 tablespoon
• Fresh Dill leaves chopped 2 tablespoon
• Fresh Coriander leaves  2 tablespoon
• Fresh Mint leaves chopped 1 tablespoon
• Green Chillies chopped 2
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper cutter 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon
• Cinnamon powder 1/4 teaspoon

• Cabbage large size 2
• Tomato paste or Ketchup  2-3 tablespoon

Procedure:
Preparation of Stuffing:

• Saute onion in butter and oil.
• Add tomatoes and spices and cook on medium heat till chicken is tender.
• Now add green chillies fresh mint, dill and coriander leaves and also add rice.
• Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Keep aside.

Preparation of Cabbage leaves:

• Now prepare cabbage leaves, remove cabbage leaves carefully, one by one.
• Boil water in a pan, add cabbage leaves in boiling water in portions of 3-4.
• Boil for 3-4 minutes to soften and remove in a strainer/sieves to remove excess water.
• Cool the leaves.

• Now put 1-2 teaspoon of prepared minced chicken on each prepared cabbage leaves and fold.

• Now in an another pan, place remaining cabbage leaves at bottom and place in layers filled cabbage leaves over it.
• Sprinkle tomato paste/Ketchup on top. 
• Put  this pan on flame/burner and cook/steam on simmering heat.
• Delicious Kelem is ready to serve.