Dried Barberries (Zereshk)

Dried barberries, known as zereshk, are small red berries with a sharp, tangy flavour. They are a familiar pantry item in Middle Eastern and Persian cooking, where they are best known for brightening rice dishes such as jeweled rice and zereshk polo. Cooks also scatter them over salads, fold them into stuffings for chicken or vegetables, add them to grain dishes and omelettes, or mix them with nuts for a sweet and sour touch. They are usually rinsed, then briefly warmed in a little butter or oil with a pinch of sugar to soften their sourness before use. At Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf, dried barberries are sold loose by the kilo. As a package-free shop, we encourage customers to bring their own containers and take just the amount they need.