Iranian Eslamboli Polou (Rice With Ground Meat)

littlemafia's Note:

A quick Iranian dish and very popular. Leave out the meat and make it a vegetarian dish. Make sure to soak the rice 3-4 hours prior to cooking.

• Total Time: 4 hrs
• Prep Time: 3 hrs
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 500 g basmati rice or 500 g long-grain rice
• 400 g ground lamb or 400 g beef
• 4 medium onions
• 4 tablespoons tomato paste
• cooking oil
• salt
• black pepper

Directions:

1. Fry the sliced onions in oil until slightly golden.
2. Add ground lamb or beef, salt, and black pepper and fry until color changes.
3. Dissolve tomato paste in a glass of hot water and add to meat.
4. Cook for a few minutes until little water is left.
5. Wash rice twice and soak in salted warm water for 3-4 hours, then drain the water.
6. Pour water in a large non-stick pan until it is half-full and bring it to a boil. Add rice and a spoonful of salt and continue boiling until rice slightly softens. Pour rice into a drain and wash it with slightly warm water.
7. Mix the rice with the meat, and continue simmering for another 10-20 minutes.

Reviews

[natedbaby]

MOST EXCELLENT! A true comfort food dish! Don't skimp on the onions and remember to fry them until they are golden to bring out their sweetness...A lovely dish! I served it with Salad Shirazi and topped it with a nice dollop of plain yogurt...YUM YUM!!

[UmmBinat]

This was nice, not spicy of course but good. I added some cooked sweet baby peas at the end as well and served this with a yogurt salad that had sweet onion and cucumber in it. I also served a fresh salad as well. I would like to make this again for DH for something simple sometime.