Tahchin Recipe (with Video)

Method for preparing the rice
1. Rinse basmati rice until water runs clear.
2. Cover again in water and let soak for 1 hour.
3. In the meantime, prepare saffron–crush, add to a bowl with a couple ice cubes and let sit.
4. After soaking, strain rice, set aside.
5. Fill the pot with more than enough water to cover the rice and add salt.
6. Bring water to a boil, then add rice in and cook for 7 minutes.
7. Pour rice into a strainer and rinse with cold water to stop it from cooking.
8. In a bowl, combine saffron water, whole eggs, egg yolks, lemon juice, oil (or butter), salt, and yogurt if you are using it (make sure to not use the lemon juice if you are).
9. Mix until thoroughly combined.
10. Add in your rice and incorporate.
Method for preparing the chicken
1. Add chicken to a saucepan and cover with water.
2. Add in your onion, bay leaves, black peppercorns, turmeric, and salt.
3. Bring the water to a boil and cover then simmer for 45 minutes.
4. After the chicken is done cooking, pull and set on a plate to cool down.
5. Remove onion, peppercorns, and bay leaves from the water the chicken cooked in.
6. Reduce by about 85%–the broth should be thick and almost syrupy.
7. Shred the chicken, discarding the bones.
8. Add in the reduced broth, set aside.
Method for preparing the barberry filling
1. Add all above ingredients to a small pot or saucepan.
2. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, or until the barberries absorb most of the liquid.
3. Set aside.
Putting it all together
1. Additional oil
2. You can either do this part in a pot over the stove or a glass/non-stick dish in the oven.
3. Stove: Cover, medium heat for 10 minutes, then low for another hour.
4. Oven: Cover with foil, 350ºF for 1.5 hours
5. Time to construct the tahchin.
6. Generously oil both the bottom and sides of your oven-safe dish or pot.
7. Add half of the rice mixture to the bottom.
8. Spread and pack into a tight, even layer.
9. Add the pistachio-barberry filling (save a little bit for garnish) and the chicken on top of that in 2 even layers.
10. Add the rest of the rice and pack into a tight, even layer again.
11. Cook your tahchin as specified in step 1.