Mixed Rice Dishes / 3 Recipes for Delicious Chicken Tahchin That Will Make Your Parties Unforgettable + Magical Tips

There are many different recipes for making Tahchin, and you can prepare it with chicken, meat, spinach, mushrooms, eggplant, or even vegetables. This delicious dish is a type of Tahdig and Tahchin, and it can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or even at Suhoor during Ramadan. Moreover, it can be made with or without an oven.

1. Simple Saffron Chicken Tahchin Recipe

Tahchin Chicken Preparation Step-by-Step (The Most Delicious Chicken Tahchin)

Step 1:
For this recipe, start by placing the chicken breast, a chopped onion, and chopped carrot in a pot. Add a stalk of celery, a few bay leaves, salt, turmeric, and pepper to the pot. Add water just enough to cover the chicken and other ingredients, then place the pot on heat and let the chicken cook thoroughly. Adding carrot, celery, and bay leaves will help remove the raw smell of the chicken and give it a better taste.

Step 2:
Soak the barberries to remove any pebbles or dirt. Wash them thoroughly and drain the water. Place a suitable-sized frying pan on heat, add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Allow the butter and oil to melt together. Add the drained barberries to the pan and reduce the heat. Stir-fry the barberries in the butter and oil, ensuring the barberries absorb the flavors, but be careful not to overcook them.

Step 3 (Optional):
If you like, you can add pistachio slivers and almond slivers to the barberries in the pan. Stir-fry them with the barberries so that they absorb the saffron fragrance. Add 2 tablespoons of brewed saffron to the mix and stir well to ensure the barberries and slivers take in the saffron aroma.

Step 4:
To make Tahchin with fried chicken, shred the chicken breast you cooked in the initial step (or cut it into small pieces). Heat a new pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, and once the oil is hot, add the chicken. Sauté the chicken a little, then add the brewed saffron to it. Stir everything together for 1-2 minutes so the saffron infuses the chicken, coloring and aromatizing it.

Step 5:
In a large bowl, beat 2 egg yolks using a whisk. Add 3 tablespoons of brewed saffron and mix it until the raw egg smell disappears. Beat the eggs until their color changes slightly. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and continue whisking. Add 1 cup of strained yogurt and 3 tablespoons of rose water, then mix well until a smooth and uniform mixture forms. Add the brewed saffron to this mixture to enhance the color and flavor of the Tahchin. After adding the saffron, pour in vegetable oil and whisk well to combine.

Step 6:
After draining the rice, gradually add it to the Tahchin mixture and stir gently to combine, making sure the rice doesn’t break. Be sure to remove the rice from the heat a little firmer than usual, as the yogurt will soften it. If the rice is too soft, your Tahchin will become mushy. The rice should be neither too firm nor too soft when added to the Tahchin mixture.

Step 7:
Place some of the rice and Tahchin mixture in the bottom of the dish you want to bake the Tahchin in, which you’ve previously greased with some oil. Press it down with a spoon. For the next layer, place the saffron chicken you sautéed earlier. Be sure to place the shredded chicken in the center of the dish, not on the edges. On top of the chicken, add the barberry and sliver mix, then add another layer of the rice mixture, pressing it down with a spoon to ensure it’s packed tightly.

Step 8:
Cover the dish with foil and poke a few holes in it. Preheat the oven to 160°C (380°F) and bake the Tahchin for about 1 to 1.5 hours. Once the bottom of the dish turns orange, or in other words, the Tahdig turns orange, your Tahchin is ready. Finally, you can garnish your Tahchin with barberries, pistachio slivers, and almond slivers.

Note: To make a smaller portion of Tahchin for two people, halve the ingredients and use meat instead of chicken. If you want to make Tahchin without saffron, simply omit the saffron from the recipe. For easy-to-make chicken seasoning mixes, click on the provided link.

How to Make Saffron Tahchin
To make saffron chicken Tahchin, you first need thick, sour yogurt. If you don't have sour, thick yogurt, you can place regular yogurt in a cup and leave it out for 1-2 hours before you begin cooking. To improve the texture of the pistachios and almonds, soak them overnight with some rose water, sugar, and water.

For preparing the rice, you can make it firmer and longer by using ice or water. After shredding the chicken and boiling the rice, sauté them lightly. It's important that the chicken remains tender. To crisp the Tahchin, use a low dish. You can also use a rice cooker, or if using an oven, set it to 170°C (340°F) for 1 hour. Make sure to measure the saffron and yogurt carefully, as improper amounts can affect the quality of the Tahchin. Using eggs will also help give your Tahchin a beautiful texture. Enjoy your delicious saffron Tahchin!

2- How to Make Saffron Chicken Tahchin in a Pot Without an Oven

The ingredients for making Tahchin without an oven are the same as for the oven-baked version. To prepare Tahchin in a pot, start by boiling the chicken, and after it's cooked, save 2 cups of the chicken broth. Shred the cooked chicken into pieces. In a separate bowl, crack 2 whole eggs and add yogurt, chicken broth, saffron, salt, and pepper. Mix well until you have a smooth mixture.

Add the parboiled rice to this mixture and gently stir to combine. Melt some butter in the bottom of your desired pot over heat. Add some of the rice mixture to the pot to form the base layer, then add another layer of rice, pressing it down with a spoon. Next, add the shredded chicken and barberries, followed by another layer of rice mixture, pressing each layer down firmly. Allow it to cook on low heat for about 1.5 hours.

3- How to Make Saffron Chicken Tahchin with Eggplant

The ingredients for making Saffron Chicken Tahchin with eggplant are similar to those for regular chicken Tahchin, with the addition of 2 eggplants. Start by cooking the chicken with onion, carrot, celery, and bay leaves to remove any undesirable odors. Once the chicken is cooked, shred it and sauté with saffron in butter.

Fry the eggplants, and chop the onion into small pieces and sauté in the same pan you used for the eggplants. Once the onion turns golden, add the shredded chicken, barberries, almond slivers, and eggplants, and sauté together to prepare the filling for the Tahchin.

In a separate bowl, mix eggs, yogurt, oil, and saffron, then add the parboiled rice and stir well to combine. Grease the pot or pan you'll be using to bake the Tahchin and layer the rice mixture and the filling as described above, then bake until done.

Secret to the Deliciousness of Tahchin Chicken and Barberries | Magical Tahchin Cooking Tips

How to Cook Chicken for Tahchin?

In a pan, add 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil or butter. Chop an onion into small pieces and sauté it. Once the onion turns golden, add ½ tablespoon of turmeric, ½ tablespoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Place 2 pieces of chicken breast on top, and add 2 tablespoons of saffron. Cover the pan and let the chicken cook on low heat for about an hour.

How to Prepare Rice for Tahchin?

First, rinse and soak 3 cups of Iranian rice. In a pot, add water and salt, then bring it to a boil. Place the rice in a strainer to drain, and then add it to the boiling water. Once the rice is slightly softened, turn off the heat. Drain the rice again and sprinkle it with cold water.

In a separate bowl, combine 1.5 cups of yogurt, 3 eggs, ½ cup of saffron water, 1 tablespoon of salt, and ¼ cup of vegetable oil or butter. Mix well. Some people use egg yolks instead of whole eggs. Add the drained rice to this mixture and mix well.

In a separate pot, heat 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil or butter. Add half of the rice and yogurt mixture. Cut the chicken into small pieces and layer them on top of the rice. Add the remaining rice mixture over the chicken. Finally, place some butter on top. Your Tahchin is ready to be cooked!

How to Bake Chicken Tahchin in the Oven?

Cover the pot with aluminum foil and make 4 to 6 holes in it. Preheat the oven to 300°F / 150°C. Let the rice bake in the oven for about an hour, then remove the foil and bake for another hour without the foil. If your oven has a grill function, turn it on for 20 minutes, but be careful not to burn the Tahchin.

How to Cook Tahchin on the Stovetop?

After adding the ingredients for the Tahchin, cover the pot. Let the rice cook on high heat for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat and cook for 2 hours on low heat. You can also try cooking Tahchin in a rice cooker. After preparing the ingredients, place them in the rice cooker as you would for any other Tahchin and let it cook for about 30 minutes.

How to Serve Tahchin?

If you're wondering what to serve with Chicken Tahchin, you can cut it into slices and serve it on its own or with side dishes like yogurt, Shirazi salad, or fresh herbs. Garnish your rice with barberries and almond slivers. Enjoy!

How to Make Saffron Crust Without Yogurt | How to Make Saffron Chicken Tahchin Without Yogurt

After draining the rice, mix one-third of it with saffron water and oil. Press it into a greased pot to form a compact layer. Then, add another layer of plain rice on top and cover it tightly with a cloth. Let the pot cook on low heat for about an hour until the rice is fully steamed, and the Tahchin crust is ready.

How to Make Saffron Crust with Yogurt

Crack two egg yolks into a large bowl and whisk them. Add 3 tablespoons of saffron water and mix. Then add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 cup of strained yogurt, and 3 tablespoons of rose water. Mix well until you have a smooth, uniform mixture. Add more saffron water and oil to the mixture, and mix again.

After draining the rice, gradually add it to the saffron mixture, stirring gently to avoid making it too thick or too runny. Then, add some of the rice and saffron mixture into a greased pot, pressing it down. Continue layering as described above, and follow the same steps for baking the Tahchin.

Chicken Tahchin and Weight Loss Diet

This delicious dish is one of the most popular foods among Iranians. Many diets exclude this dish due to its high calorie content. However, not only is this tasty food hard to skip, but it also has numerous benefits, making it a highly nutritious meal.

Therefore, if you're on a weight loss diet or want to lose weight, try to control your daily calorie intake. The best way to do this is by following a proper weight loss plan that helps you maintain a healthy diet without eliminating foods, leading you to weight loss.

Chicken Tahchin

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should Tahchin be steamed?
It typically takes about 45 minutes to an hour for Tahchin to cook properly.

Should we use egg yolks or egg whites for Tahchin?
It is important to use only egg yolks when preparing Tahchin.

How is Chicken Tahchin made under the rice?
After preparing the pot or pan and adding oil and saffron, place the chicken in a layer at the bottom of the pot. Then, pour the Tahchin mixture over the chicken so it completely covers the layers. After that, add the rest of the plain rice on top of this Tahchin layer. Smooth the rice evenly on the surface and let it steam for at least one hour.

What kind of yogurt is suitable for Tahchin?
The type of yogurt depends on your preference. Both full-fat and low-fat yogurt can be used in Chicken Tahchin, affecting the final taste of the dish. If you want a tangier taste, you can use low-fat or Greek yogurt. For a creamier and richer flavor, full-fat yogurt is a better option.

What should we eat with Chicken Tahchin?
You can enjoy Chicken Tahchin with pickles, yogurt, lettuce salad, or even olives. It also pairs well with sides like Shirazi salad or fresh herbs. For a drink, we recommend non-carbonated, salt-free yogurt drink (doogh).

Can it be made without eggs?
To make Chicken Tahchin without eggs, after draining and preparing the rice, mix the chicken breast with some salt, saffron, and chopped onion, and let it marinate for a short while. Then, cook the marinated chicken and shred it. Next, mix yogurt with saffron and salt, and add it to the rice for a smooth mixture. Layer the rice mixture in the pot, followed by the cooked shredded chicken and barberries. Repeat the layers in order, then allow it to steam.

How to make a Diet-Friendly Tahchin?
To make a diet-friendly Chicken Tahchin, cook the chicken breast with saffron, salt, and onion. After adding salt and black pepper to the eggs, mix them well. Then, add yogurt, rosewater, and saffron to the eggs, along with some olive oil or ghee. Add the drained rice, soaked and sautéed barberries, and the chicken to the egg mixture. Place it in the pot, press it down with the back of a spoon, and allow it to steam.