Sabzi Polo ba Mahi 2 means herbed rice with fish. Sabzi is herbs, polo is rice and Mahi is fish. Sabzi polo is a popular Persian mixed rice that is usually made with basmati rice steamed with chopped fresh herbs. The traditional herbs used in this rice are tareh (green nira, also called garlic chives), cilantro, parsley, and dill. I love the flavor of fresh herbs mixed with fluffy basmati, so I prepare Sabzi Polo as a side dish all the time; however, it is particularly amazing with fish. Growing up Sabzi Polo ba Mahi was a tradition in our house for Nowruz (also pronounced Norooz and Norouz), or Persian New Year which is celebrated with the arrival of spring. Sabzi Polo ba Mahi is a New Year favorite in Iran, but bearing in mind that Nowruz has been celebrated since the beginning of civilization, it is a new tradition because in ancient times due to limited transportation only those with access to bodies of water would be able to harvest fish. This means the rest of the population must have prepared different dishes with the ingredients that were available to them in their own region. Some other foods that are prepared for Nowruz today are Kuku Sabzi, Aash e Reshteh, Dolmeh Barg, Zereshk Polo ba Morgh, and Shirin Polo.
