Fragrant saffron and sweet onions make this Persian-style chicken and rice a feast for the senses Adas Polo o Morgh (Persian-Style Lentil Rice With Chicken) Photo by Rey Lopez for The Washington Post Many years ago, one of my uncles – known for his mischievous grin and active eyebrows – worked in St. Petersburg for some time and came back with tales equal parts true and tall. I call this one The Saffron Dealer: At one point during his stay abroad, my uncle met a man who sold incredibly high-quality saffron at an unbeatable price. My uncle said he would buy “big bags” of the delicate crimson threads – “As cheap as salt!” he’d shout as he told the story – and “throw handfuls” of them into everything he cooked: eggs, soup, souffles, ice cream.