Persian Rice

Ingredients

• 3 quarts water
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 cups basmati rice, rinsed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 russet potato, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1 pinch ground cumin
• salt to taste
• 3 tablespoons butter, cut into thin slices, or to taste
• 1 pinch saffron threads
• 1.5 tablespoons hot water
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, or to taste

Steps

1. Place water and kosher salt in a pot; bring to a boil. Add rice; cook and stir for exactly 7 minutes. Drain.
2. Heat olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Cover bottom of the pot with 1 layer of potato slices. Sprinkle cumin and salt over potatoes. Cook until potatoes are sizzling, 2 to 3 minutes; top potatoes with rice to form an even layer. Reduce heat to low and place butter slices over rice.
3. Top the pot with a layer of clean paper towels, then place the lid over the towels. Steam until rice is fluffy, about 45 minutes.
4. Grind saffron threads with a mortar and pestle. Mix crushed saffron with 1 ½ tablespoons hot water in a large bowl. Add a couple of spoonfuls of rice to saffron mixture and stir until rice is yellow.
5. Spoon remaining rice into a serving bowl. Top with saffron rice and line the edges of the bowl with potatoes. Garnish with parsley.