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5.0 from 6 votes

Lubia Polo (Persian Green Bean Rice)

Lubia polo is a meaty, savory Persian green bean rice made with lamb, potatoes, and green beans in a deliciously spiced tomato sauce.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 654 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Middle Eastern , Persian , Iranian

Ingredients

Rice
  • 1/2 tsp saffron
  • 6 cups water
  • 2 cups basmati rice
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 potatoes sliced ½ inch thickness
Meat Green Bean Mixture
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 White Onion medium diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 lb ground beef or lamb
  • 1 tsp advieh or curry powder
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 lb green beans fresh or frozen (cut into ½ inch pieces)
  • 6 oz tomato paste

Instructions

Rice
    Cup of Yum
  1. Grind the saffron threads in the palm of your hand, or in a mortar and pestle (preferred). Mix with 1/4 cup of warm water. Let sit and allow saffron to bloom and draw out as much color as possible. It should be a deep ruby red.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt and stir. Place rice in a strainer or sieve and rinse with lukewarm water, swishing rice around with your fingers to get rid of excess starch. Continue to rinse until water runs clear.
  3. Add rice to boiling water and stir to prevent rice from sticking to the bottom. Cook, stirring occasionally, until rice begins to rise to the top and is tender but still has a slight bite to it, 6 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
Meat and Green Beans Mixture
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the onions, sauté 3 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to sauté until the onions are golden brown.
  2. Add the ground beef or lamb, stir in the Advieh Persian Spice Blend (or curry powder), cayenne, cumin, cinnamon, black pepper and salt. Sauté until meat is no longer pink and then add the green beans, tomato paste and half cup of water. Stir to mix thoroughly.
  3. Cover and cook until the green beans are almost cooked, 6 minutes.
Assembly
  1. In the large pot used for the rice add the 3 tablespoons olive oil and heat over medium high. Arrange the potato slices evenly over the bottom of the pot, do not overlap. This is your tahdig layer.
  2. Spoon a third of the rice over the potatoes and then pour half of the bloomed saffron water on top. Add a third of the meat bean mixture and repeat with the rest of the rice and meat mixture, making sure the rice is shaped like a cone shaped mountain. Pour remaining bloomed saffron water plus 1/3 cup water all over.
  3. Wrap the lid in a clean kitchen towel and place it on the pot. Turn heat to medium low and cook for 40 minutes, rotating the pot a few times for even crisping, until the rice is tender and fluffy and the tahdig is crispy and golden.
  4. Run a rubber spatula around the inside of the pot. Place an appropriate-sized platter over the top of the pot and quickly and confidently flip the pot over. There should be a swish sound of the release of the tahdig. Alternately, you can scoop the rice, on to a platter. Gently remove the tahdig whole or in pieces, and serve it on the side.

Nutrition Information

Calories 654kcal (33%) Carbohydrates 75g (25%) Protein 22g (44%) Fat 30g (46%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 54mg (18%) Sodium 1075mg (45%) Potassium 1067mg (30%) Fiber 6g (24%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 1098IU (22%) Vitamin C 32mg (36%) Calcium 97mg (10%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 654

% Daily Value*

Calories 654kcal 33%
Carbohydrates 75g 25%
Protein 22g 44%
Fat 30g 46%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 54mg 18%
Sodium 1075mg 45%
Potassium 1067mg 23%
Fiber 6g 24%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 1098IU 22%
Vitamin C 32mg 36%
Calcium 97mg 10%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.