Iranian Rice With Beans And Dill Weed Baqala Polo Recipes

BAGHALA POLO -- IRANIAN RICE WITH LAMB, DILL AND LIMA BEANS

Steps:

• In a heavy 3-4 quart casserole, with a tightly fitting lid, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter over a medium heat.
• Add the onions and cook for about 10 minutes or until the slices are browned.
• You will need to stir them often.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the pan and onto a plate.
• Set aside.
• Working in batches, brown the lamb cubes in the remaining fat in the dish.
• As they brown, take them out of the dish and put them on the plate with the onions.
• Pour the 3 cups of water into the casserole and bring it to a boil, scraping to loosen any brown particles clinging to the dish.
• Return the lamb and onion to the dish, add the salt and reduce the heat to low.
• Cover tightly and simmer for about an hour or untilt he lamb is tender and doesn't show any resistance when pierced.
• Transfer the onions, lamb and all the cooking liquid to a large bowl.
• Set the casserole aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a 5-6 quart saucepan.
• Pour in the rice in a slow, thin stream so the water does not stop boiling.
• Stir a couple times and boil for 5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the dill and lima beans and drain in a fine sieve.
• Ladle about half of the rice mixture into the smaller casserole and moisten it with 1/2 cup of the lamb cooking liquid.
• Then use a spatula or spoon to spread the rice mixture to the edges of the pan.
• Use a slotted spoon to return the lamb and onions to the casserole and smooth them over the rice.
• Spread the remaining rice mixture on top.
• Combine 2 tablespoons of the melted butter with 6 tablespoons of the lamb broth and pour it over the rice.
• Bring the casserole to a boil over high heat.
• Cover tightly and bake on a middle oven shelf for 30-40 minutes or until the beans are tender and rice has absorbed the liquid.
• To serve, spoon about a cup of the rice mixture into a small bowl.
• Add the dissolved saffron and stir until the rice is bright yellow.
• Spread about half the remaining rice on a heated platter and arrange the lamb over it.
• Cover the lamb with the rest of the plain rice and garnish with the saffron rice.
• Pour the remaining 6 tablespoons butter over the top.

PERSIAN RICE WITH FAVA BEANS AND DILL (BAQALA POLOW)

Steps:

• Wash the rice by placing it in a large container and covering it with water. Agitate gently with your hand, then pour off the water. Repeat 5 times until the water is no longer cloudy. Drain, using a fine-mesh colander, and set aside.
• If using fresh fava beans in the pod, shell and remove second skins. If using frozen favas with second skins removed, place in a colander and rinse thoroughly. Set aside.
• Heat ¼ cup (60ml) oil in a large, non-stick pot over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the cinnamon stick, leek, and garlic, and stir-fry for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the leek is wilted. Add the rice, salt, pepper, turmeric, cardamom, and rose water, and stir-fry for another 1 minute.
• Add the water, tip in the skinned fava beans and bring back to a boil, stirring gently twice with a wooden spoon, to loosen any grains that may have stuck to the bottom of the pot. Cover firmly with a lid to prevent any steam from escaping. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed.
• Add the dill and fluff using 2 forks. Drizzle the remaining oil and the saffron-infused rose water over the rice. Cover again, reduce heat to low, and cook for another 10 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and allow to cool, still covered, for 5 minutes.
• Serve with fried eggs and Yogurt and Persian Shallot Dip or alongside roasted lamb or fish.

KALAM POLO (PERSIAN CABBAGE AND RICE)

Steps:

• Pour boiling water over ground saffron; let sit for 30 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup for rice; save remaining brewed saffron for another use.
• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Saute onion until light brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in ground beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and turmeric. Cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Cover the pan and cook over low heat for 15 minutes.
• Heat remaining oil in another pan over medium heat. Saute cabbage until tender, about 5 minutes. Add cinnamon and ginger. Stir mixture into ground beef mixture and continue to cook over low heat, covered, for 5 minutes, adding 1 tablespoon of water if mixture is dry.
• Rinse and drain rice; transfer to a pot. Add cold water, butter, and remaining salt. Bring mixture to a boil, uncovered. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until rice is half-cooked and water has evaporated, 10 to 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Add beef mixture to the rice and slowly mix to incorporate. Turn the heat to low. Add hot water and reserved 1/4 cup brewed saffron to the rice, cover the pot, and let cook until rice is tender, about 20 minutes.

IRANIAN RICE WITH BEANS AND DILL WEED (BAQALA POLO)

Steps:

• Cook lima beans until done.
• Drain.
• Set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
• Add rice to water.
• Boil 5-10 minutes , until rice is no longer crunchy, but still firm.
• Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Drain rice in colander.
• Mix beans and dill weed with the rice.
• Put half of the melted margarine in the bottom of the rice pot.
• Put the rice back into the pot, a spoonful at a time, heaping it into a mound, not touching sides of pot.
• With a chopstick or similar tool, poke holes in the rice in several places.
• Pour the remaining melted margarine over the rice.
• Cover the underside of the pot lid with a dish towel, and put lid tightly on pot.
• Cook rice about 20 minutes over medium heat, then turn heat to low, and cook for another 30 minutes.
• The rice on the bottom of the pot should become golden and crispy.
• Soak bottom of pot in cold water for a few minutes, to loosen this.
• Put rice onto a serving platter, surrounded by chunks of crispy rice.
• Take 2/3 cup of the rice, mix it with the dissolved saffron, and sprinkle over the rest of the rice as a garnish.
• Cook spinach in lightly salted water until tender
• Drain well.
• Chop.
• Set aside.
• Heat margarine or oil in a pan.
• Add onions, and fry until golden.
• Add spinach and fry together briefly.
• Turn off heat.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to serving bowl or dish.
• Mix in yogurt.