Meat & Poultry Chicken Chicken Thighs Baked Chicken Thigh Persian Rice Pie (Tah Chin) 4.0 (1) 1 Review The bottom layer of this rice pie is all tahdig--the delectable, crispy golden rice that is the highlight of an Iranian meal. Cooking the pie on the stovetop before it goes into the oven gives the rice its signature crunch. Read more about this recipe. By Louisa Shafia Louisa Shafia Louisa Shafia has written extensively on Persian food and culture, and is the author of The New Persian Kitchen. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 18, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H, RD, is a Chinese and Jewish chef and dietitian who has worked in all facets of the food world. She is a recipe developer, culinary nutritionist and marketing specialist with more than 15 years of experience creating editorial and digital content for top food and kitchen brands. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Prep Time: 1 hr 20 mins Additional Time: 2 hrs 40 mins Total Time: 4 hrs Servings: 12 Yield: 12 servings Nutrition Profile: Nut-Free Healthy Aging Soy-Free High-Protein Gluten-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 9 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 2 ¾ teaspoons salt, divided 1 ¾ teaspoons ground pepper, divided 6 medium bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed ¼ cup dried barberries or dried sour cherries (see Tips) 5 ⅓ cups water plus 1 tablespoon, divided 1 large yellow onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 ½ cups brown basmati rice 1 teaspoon ground saffron (see Tips) 3 large eggs 3 cups whole-milk plain Greek yogurt 2 teaspoons lemon zest 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons melted butter Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine 2 tablespoons oil and turmeric in a large bowl with 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Add chicken and turn to coat. Transfer the chicken to a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, turning once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part without touching bone registers 160 degrees F, 25 to 30 minutes total. Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board and let cool for 5 minutes. Reserve the pan. Remove the meat from the bones and cut into 1-inch pieces. Meanwhile, soak barberries (or cherries) in 1/3 cup hot water for 30 minutes. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Add garlic and cinnamon; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Transfer to a medium bowl. Wipe out the pan. Bring 5 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add rice and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook 5 minutes; drain and set aside. Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon water and saffron in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk in eggs, yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Add 1 1/2 cups of the yogurt mixture to the onion. Drain the barberries (or cherries) and add to the onion mixture. Stir in the chicken. Spread the reserved rice on the baking sheet, scraping up any browned bits left from the chicken, then stir it into the remaining yogurt mixture in the large bowl. Let the chicken and rice mixtures marinate at room temperature for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Heat the remaining 4 tablespoons oil in the skillet over medium-low heat. Spread half of the rice mixture over the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Spread the chicken mixture over the rice, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Top with the remaining rice mixture, smoothing the top with a spatula. Pour butter over the top. Being careful of the hot pan, cover tightly with foil. Cook for 5 minutes. Transfer the pan to the oven. Bake for 1 1/4 hours. Let the pie cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and run a knife around the edge to loosen the pie. Place a flat serving platter on top of the pan and carefully invert to release the pie from the pan. Tips Tips: Dried Barberries: These berries have a lemony, sweet-sour tang. Use it up: Swap for currants or dried sour cherries. Dried Sour Cherries: Also known as dried tart cherries, they have a lip-puckering flavor. Use it up: Stir into granola or oatmeal. Saffron: These crimson-colored threads are the delicate stigmas of the saffron crocus flower. They lend a vivid golden hue and rich floral flavor. About 90 percent of saffron comes from Iran. Use it up: Add to risotto, rice pudding or paella. Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2018 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 430 Calories 23g Fat 33g Carbs 25g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 12 Serving Size 1 cup Calories 430 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 33g 12% Dietary Fiber 2g 8% Total Sugars 5g Protein 25g 49% Total Fat 23g 29% Saturated Fat 6g 30% Cholesterol 137mg 46% Vitamin A 250IU 5% Vitamin C 3mg 3% Folate 15mcg 4% Sodium 506mg 22% Calcium 86mg 7% Iron 2mg 9% Magnesium 25mg 6% Potassium 298mg 6% Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.