Rice With Sour Cherries (Albalu Polow)

Ingredients

• 2 cornish game hens or 1 frying chicken, about 3 pounds total
• 2 large peeled onions
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground saffron dissolved in 2 tablespoons hot water
• 3 8-ounce jars, pitted sour or morello cherries in light syrup, or 4 cups dried pitted sour cherries
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup clarified butter (ghee) or oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 cups long-grain basmati rice
• 1 piece lavash bread
• 1 tablespoon slivered almonds, for garnish
• 2 tablespoons slivered pistachios, for garnish
• 2 tablespoons melted butter, for garnish
• 1/2 cup cherry syrup, for garnish