Categories: Pilaf, Main dish 
      Yield: 6 servings 
  
  2 3/4 c  Basmati rice, rinsed in 5 or 
           -6 changes of water 
    1/4 c  Salt 
      2 lb Carrots, peeled and cut in 
           -julienne 
      6 tb Oil 
           Liquid Saffron 
      2 tb Slivered almonds 
      2 tb Slivered pistachios 
           Peel of 3 oranges, julienned 
      2 tb Currants 
    1/4 c  Dried barberries (zereshk) 
        ds Ground cinnamon 
        ds Ground cardamom 
      1 t  Rose water 
    1/4 c  Butter 
      4 ts Crushed crystallized sugar 
           -or rock candy (opt) 
  
  "The Legendary Cuisine of Persia" by Margaret Shields, would accompany 
  roast lamb or chicken or occupy center stage at a Near Eastern 
  banquet. 
   
  Cover rinsed rice with water by at least 1". Add 1 tablespoon salt. 
  Soak 3 hours. 
   
  In skillet, fry carrot strips in 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat, 
  stirring constantly, 10 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 
  2 teaspoon Liquid Saffron and 2-3 tablespoons water. Cook until 
  liquid is reduced, 4-5 minutes. Remove carrot strips to bowl and set 
  aside. 
   
  In skillet, toast 1 teaspoon almonds over medium heat. Set aside for 
  garnish. Put remaining almonds and all pistachios in small saucepan, 
  cover with cold water, bring to boil and drain. Set aside. Combine 1 
  teaspoon blanched almonds, 1 teaspoon blanched pistachios and 
  reserved toasted almonds for garnish. 
   
  Put remaining granulated sugar in small saucepan with 6 tablespoons 
  water. Bring slowly to boil and simmer gently 10 minutes. Add orange 
  peel and remaining blanched nuts and boil 30 seconds. Drain, 
  reserving syrup. Add peel and nuts to fried carrot strips. 
   
  Soak currants in warm water 10 minutes until puffed and shining. 
  Drain. Separate 1 teaspoon currants for garnish and add remainder to 
  carrot strip mixture. Pick over barberries, then gently fry in 
  skillet in small amount of oil until glowing red color, 1-2 minutes. 
  Separate 1 teaspoon barberries for garnish and add remainder to 
  carrot strip mixture. Stir cinnamon, cardamom and rose water into 
  carrot strip mixture and divide mixture into 3 parts. 
   
  In 3 quart saucepan add 2 quarts water and 3 tablespoons salt and 
  bring to rapid boil. Drain soaked rice. Add to saucepan, bring back 
  to boil and boil until grains are soft on outside but still firm in 
  center, 2-3 minutes. Drain in colander and rinse with lukewarm water. 
  Toss gently in colander. 
   
  Rinse saucepan, return to heat, add some oil and heat until sizzling. 
  Sprinkle 1/4 of rice over bottom of saucepan. Spread 1/2 of carrot 
  mixture on rice. Sprinkle 1/4 of rice over carrot mixture. Repeat 
  with remaining carrot mixture and rice, ending with thick layer of 
  rice formed into conical mound. Pour remaining syrup and 4 teaspoons 
  Liquid Saffron over rice. Make 2-3 holes through rice to bottom of 
  saucepan with handle of wooden spoon. Spread clean dishcloth over 
  edges of saucepan and set cover firmly over dishcloth. 
   
  Keep heat on high until rice is steaming, 2-3 minutes, then reduce 
  heat to low and cook at least 30 minutes. Rice can be kept on very 
  lowest heat as long as 1 1/2 hours total. 
   
  Remove saucepan from heat and set on cold, wet surface 1-2 minutes. 
  (This helps loosen bottom crust.) 
   
  Meanwhile, melt butter. Remove 2-3 tablespoons rice and mix with 
  remaining 2 tablespoons Liquid Saffron in small bowl and set aside. 
   
  Gently toss and mix pilaf, leaving crust in pot, and sprinkle on 
  warmed dish in symmetrical mound. Sprinkle with saffron rice. Garnish 
  with reserved almonds (both toasted and blanched), pistachios, 
  currants and barberries. 
   
  Crush crystallized sugar into small "diamonds," mix with 1/2 teaspoon 
  boiling water and sprinkle over rice. Pour melted butter all over. 
  Remove bottom crust (tah dig) from pot and serve on separate plate. 
  Makes 4-6 servings. 
   
  Each of 4 servings contains about: 967 calories; 1,658 milligrams 
  sodium; 31 milligrams cholesterol; 38 grams fat; 149 grams 
  carbohydrates; 13 grams protein; 3.15 grams fiber.