Baghala Polo Iranian Rice With Lamb Dill And Lima Beans 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.

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.

BAGHALI POLO - PERSIAN RICE WITH LIMA BEANS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, saute the onion and lima beans over medium heat for about five minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl, combine saffron water and yogurt. Add 1/2 cup of your basmati rice to this bowl and mix.
• In a large pot, add enough water to thinly cover the bottom. Add 3 tablespoons canola oil and give it a swirl so the water and oil mix.
• Layer the bottom of the pot with the rice and yogurt mixture.
• Add a handful of chopped dill to the pot then cover with a small layer of rice.
• Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of advieh over the rice.
• Add a generous layer of lima beans.
• Add a generous layer of chopped dill.
• Gently mix the rice, fava beans, and dill.
• Continue layering until you are out of both rice and the vegetables. You should finish with a layer of rice. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of advieh on top.
• With the end of a spatula, make holes around the perimeter of the pot, making sure you don't pass the yogurt-rice layer.
• Cover and on high for 10 minutes.
• Place a towel on top of the pot and cover tightly. Cook on medium-low for 1 hour.
• Halfway through the cooking process, drizzle 2 tablespoons of melted butter or oil over the rice. If you'd like, you can also add a pinch of saffron to the butter or oil too.