Adas Polo – Persian Lentil Rice

Ingredients

• 300g basmati rice
• 200g green lentils
• 2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 100g raisins
• 100g dates, chopped
• ½ tsp saffron, dissolved in 2 tbsp warm water
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• Butter
• Salt

Method

1. 11. Cook the lentils 15 minutes until almost tender. Drain.
2. 22. Fry the onion rings in olive oil until crispy and dark golden. Reserve half for topping.
3. 33. Rinse and boil the rice 5 minutes. Drain.
4. 44. Layer rice, lentils, fried onion, raisins and dates in a pot.
5. 55. Drizzle saffron water and dot butter. Scatter cinnamon.
6. 66. Steam on lowest heat with a towel under the lid for 30 minutes.
7. 77. Turn out, top with reserved crispy onion.