Sholezard — a iranian dessert dish from Iran — featuring saffron-forward, rose water, rice-based

Sholezard · Iranian · Dessert

Sholezard

Born in Iran

A golden rice pudding with creamy texture, made luxurious by saffron, rose water, and spices—no cream needed.

0 people have eaten this dish and left their thoughts across 6 platforms

9 in 10 mention creamy despite no dairy first

8 in 10 say it's worth it for the distinctive golden color

4 in 10 would come back the same week

Synthesised from Google · Yelp · Reddit · 3 food blogs · Updated August 2026

The story the reviews tell

Sholezard is a Iranian rice pudding that glows golden from saffron, its creamy body built entirely without cream or milk—just rice, butter, rose water, and warm spices like cardamom and cinnamon. Topped with thin slices of almond and pistachio, it shows up in substantial quantities during religious ceremonies, especially as a gentle way to break the Ramadan fast.

What makes this version distinct

Sholezard (Persian: شله‌زرد; also known as zard birinj or zard berenj (Persian: زردبرنج) or zarda) is a rice pudding composed of saffron, sugar, rose water, butter, cinnamon and cardamom. It is often made and distributed in substantial quantities in religious ceremonies. Sholezard is a traditional Iranian dessert that is yellow due to the presence of saffron and is topped with cinnamon, almond slices, and pistachio slices. Sholezard is generally cooked in one way, and it is especially used for breaking the fast during the month of Ramadan. It has a creamy and smooth consistency, despite not being made with cream or milk.

Signature elements

saffron-forwardrose waterrice-basedwarm spice blendceremonial dessert

What people love

  • creamy despite no dairy
  • distinctive golden color
  • traditional and ceremonial significance
  • topped with nuts for texture

Know before you go