A simple explanation on how to use barberries in your kitchen.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
What are Zereshk or Barberries?
Barberries, Berberis or Zereshk in Persian are a delightful, useful, and once you use it, indispensable ingredient in your pantry. It’s one of those ingredients like Sumac and Sundried Tomato Paste that makes you a believer from the first use and have you going, “How did I ever survive without it?”
There are many different types of barberries, depending on which part of the world they grow. Some of the shrubs are grown for their ornamental value, with their yellow coloured leaves, red or black berries.
The edible type is called Berberis Vulgaris and pretty much grows wild in Asia and Europe.
Barberries are a crucial part of any Persian kitchen, making themselves known by imparting not only a gorgeous burst of colour but also a marked tart and tangy flavour.
How to use Zereshk?
- As a cooking ingredient: It’s a simple matter of soaking them in tepid water for about 10 minutes, squeeze dry and use whole or chopped up.
- As a garnish: sauté them in butter and a little sugar to counteract the tartness, before using them whole.
How to Cook with Barberries?
They can be used in any recipe where you want a hint of fruity tartness:
- in rice or couscous
- in salads
- as stuffing
- in kababs and sausages
- in cakes
- in cookies (just like cranberries)
- with their high pectin levels, great in jams
I use them in many of my dishes, Middle Eastern or otherwise, and they are wonderful in all manner of recipes. Barberries are a key ingredient in many Persian rice dishes, one of the most famous of these is Morasa Polow or Jewelled Rice (click for recipe).
Recipes using Zereshk
Substitute for Zereshk/Barberries
Dried Sour Cherries or Cranberries
So, there you have it, another staple in our global kitchen and hopefully, yours too, soon, if not already. Here in the UK, I purchase them online although when I’m in London and have access to Middle Eastern stores, I do stock up a little bit! I hope you get your hands on some and start experimenting, I would love to hear from you, just drop me a line!
If you like the recipe, don’t forget to leave me a comment and if you’re feeling like a start, that 5-star rating! Thank you!
And if you make the recipe, share it on any platform and tag me @azlinbloor, and hashtag it #linsfood
Lin xx
Persian Recipes on LinsFood
How to Use Barberries (Zereshk, an essential Persian ingredient)
Ingredients
- Barberries amount, as the recipe calls for
Instructions
As a cooking ingredient
- Soak them in tepid water for about 10 minutes, squeeze dry and use whole or chopped up.
As a garnish
- Sauté them in butter and a little sugar to counteract the tartness, before using them whole.
Very interesting to read about barberries, Lin. They must make any dish look instantly glamorous! We use dried pomegranate pearls or anardana here for a similar tart flavour but it doesn’t have this lovely colour.
Thank you Maria. they certainly do. I purchased some dried pomegranate seeds recently to grind them and saw that they were made in Pakistan!