Adas Polo (lentils Rice) Persian Recipe

basmati rice

🥗Healthier: quinoa

💰Cheaper: long-grain rice

Quinoa offers a higher protein content while long-grain rice is often less expensive.

dried raisins

🥗Healthier: dried cranberries

💰Cheaper: sultanas

Cranberries provide a tart flavor while sultanas are more affordable.

saffron

🥗Healthier: turmeric

💰Cheaper: paprika

Turmeric gives a similar color at a lower cost.

almonds

🥗Healthier: walnuts

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Walnuts are healthier fats, while sunflower seeds are budget-friendly.

Soak the rice with 1 Tsp salt for 1 hour in a pot.

Add 1 Tsp Zafran (saffron) to 1/4 cup boiling water.

Dice the onion.

Slice the potato.

Put the Lentils in a small pot, add salt and pour in boiling water until it covers the lentils (Approx. 2 cups of boiling water).

Cover the pot with the lid (leave the lid cracked open so the steam can escape) and simmer for 30 minutes at low heat.

Pour the soaked rice (including the water) into a pot and simmer the rice until it becomes tender.

Drain the rice in a colander.

In a small pot, dip fry the diced onions in vegetable oil until translucent.

Add the ground beef to the pot.

Add salt, black pepper powder and ground cinnamon, stir well and fry until the beef is evenly brown.

Add the raisins to the pot and continue frying for 5 minutes.

Pour in the lentils in the rice pot and mix well so the lentils and rice are well blended.

In a large pot, pour 2 Tbsp vegetable oil, lay the sliced potatoes across the pot and add the lentils and rice mixture to the pot. Add 2 tbsp oil (Mix 2 Tbsp Oil with 4 Tbsp boiling water) to the pot.

Cover the pot with a large napkin and put the lid on top.

Cook for 20 to 25 minutes.

Add 5 to 6 tbsp of the lentils rice to the beef/raisins mixture, then pour in the soaked saffron (Optional: Add the 1/3 of the lentils to the pot, if kept from the prior step).

Mix thoroughly, cover the pot with the lid and cook for 15 minutes.

Fry the dried barberries in 1 tbsp vegetable oil.

Add the beef/raisins mixture to the lentil rice pot, stir thoroughly until well mixed.

Add the fried barberries right before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens