Side Dish · Middle Eastern · Dinner ·

Toasted Persian Pistachio Rice with Rose Petals

Name: Toasted Persian Pistachio Rice with Rose Petals
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Side Dish
Ingredients: 2 cups Basmati rice; 4 cups water; 1 tsp salt; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1/4 tsp saffron threads; 2 tbsp warm water; 1/2 cup toasted pistachios, coarsely chopped; 1/4 cup dried rose petals, food grade, loosely packed; 2 tbsp butter; 1/4 cup golden raisins; Pinch of salt; Pinch of white pepper

This fragrant Persian rice dish combines the nutty flavor of pistachios with the floral notes of rose petals, creating an elegant and exotic side dish.

4.4(75 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 24, 2025

Toasted Persian Pistachio Rice with Rose Petals — Side Dish served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Rice

For the Saffron Water

For the Pistachio Mixture

For Final Assembly

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 265 kcal
Protein: 4.8 g
Carbs: 33.2 g
Fat: 13.3 g
Fiber: 1.7 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1592 kcal
Protein: 29 g
Carbs: 199 g
Fat: 80 g
Fiber: 10 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 cups Basmati rice	680	14	148	2	2
4 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
1 tsp salt	0	0	0	0	0
2 tbsp vegetable oil	240	0	0	28	0
1/4 tsp saffron threads	1	0	0	0	0
2 tbsp warm water	0	0	0	0	0
1/2 cup toasted pistachios coarsely chopped	340	13	18	28	6
1/4 cup dried rose petals food grade, loosely packed	10	1	2	0	1
2 tbsp butter	200	0	0	22	0
1/4 cup golden raisins	120	1	31	0	1
Pinch of salt	0	0	0	0	0
Pinch of white pepper	1	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Rice

1
Rinse the rice
Rinse the Basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
Tip: Use a fine sieve to rinse and drain the rice thoroughly.
2
Boil rice
In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add salt and rice.
3
Cook and drain
Stir and cook until the rice is al dente. Drain and set aside.
Tip: Do not allow the rice to become mushy during boiling.

Making the Saffron Water

1
Crush saffron
Gently crush the saffron threads in a small bowl.
2
Steep saffron
Add warm water to the saffron and let it steep for 5 minutes.
3
Set aside
Set aside for later use.

How to Make Toasted Persian Pistachio Rice with Rose Petals

Total time: 2 h · Yields 6 servings

1
Toast pistachios
Toast the pistachios in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant.
2
Melt butter and plump raisins
Melt butter in a pan on low heat and add the raisins to plump them up.
3
Layer the rice
In a large pot, layer part of the rice, sprinkle in the toasted pistachios, rose petals, and saffron water. Repeat layers.