ADAS POLO - PERSIAN RICE WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring salted water to a boil and simmer lentils on low for 20 - 30 minutes, or until tender. Drain water from lentils and set aside.
• In a pan, saute the onions and garlic in oil. Add raisins, dates, and spices, except saffron. Mix well and set aside.
• Cook rice as you would like. For a sure-fire way, I use my rice cooker. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Add to rice cooker and cover with 2 cups water. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and a drizzle of oil. Cook. Once rice is done, transfer cooked rice to a large bowl.
• In the same pot (or your rice cooker), add oil to just cover the bottom surface. Add potato slices.
• Add a layer of rice.
• Add a layer of lentil-raisin mixture.
• Continue layering, ending with a final layer of rice.
• Cover and cook (on medium heat in a pot or just hit "cook" button on your rice cooker) for 10 minutes.
• Drizzle melted butter and saffron water over your rice.
• Cover the top of your pot or rice cooker with a tea towel to prevent steam from escaping, and top with lid.
• Cook on low for 30 minutes. You want to make the potatoes crispy, so they must cook slowly. In the rice cooker, I continuously hit the cook button so this process (called tadig) can happen. It's totally worth it!
• Serve.

ADAS POLO (PERSIAN LENTIL RICE W/CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND RAISINS)

Steps:

• Wash lentils thoroughly. Add water to a medium-sized pot and boil uncovered over medium-high heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until done (don't overcook).
• Drain lentils in a colander, saving the liquid. Dissolve the saffron in a small amount of hot water and add to the lentils. Set aside.
• Wash the rice thoroughly. To a separate pot add water, half of the oil and salt and bring to a boil. On high heat, boil the rice until slightly soft (10 to 15 minutes). Drain rice in a large colander and rinse with warm water.
• Select a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Coat the bottom of the pot with the remaining oil and add 1/3 of the rice. Add 1/3 of the lentils and mix well. Repeat until all the rice and lentils are mixed in the pot.
• Shape the rice-lentil mixture into a pyramid and cover with a lid and steam over a medium to medium-low heat for about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Slice the onions thinly and lightly caramelize over low heat with oil. Check the onions every 5 to 10 minutes. Stir the onions and scrape up any fond that forms on the bottom of the skillet (30-40 minutes).
• Add the remaining ingredients and cook for about 5 more minutes. Serve the lentil rice on a serving platter and top off with the caramelized onion mixture.

ADAS POLO

Steps:

• Soak lentils in 2 cups water for 2 hours. Bring to a boil, then cook over low heat for 1/2 hour or until soft. Most of the water should be evaporated or absorbed. Set aside.
• Soak the rice in lightly salted water for 1/2 hour. Pour off nearly all the water. Put the rice in a pan with 3 cups boiling water. Cook the rice over moderate heat for 10 minutes (partly cooked).
• Drain and rinse rice under cold water. Drain and set aside.
• Put 2 tablespoons oil in a pan large enough to hold potato slices in a single layer.
• Add the broth, turmeric and coriander seeds and shake pan briskly to mix. Arrange the potato slices to fit the bottom of the pan.
• Mix the lentils and rice together and spread the mixture over the potato slices, but shape it into a pyramid.
• Cover the pan and cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons oil over the rice. Cover the pan with paper towels, and place lid on top.
• Cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes more to develop a crisp crust.
• Serve warm.
• Serves 4 to 6 as a side dish.
• Variation: Omit coriander seeds and add 2/3 cup raisins to the lentil/rice mixture.