Estamboli Polo with Ground Beef (Green Beans Rice)

Tags

basmati rice, green beans, ground beef, loobia polo, Persian food recipe, persian recipe, Polo, saffron, turmeric

This version of estamboli polo uses ground beef instead of the stew beef used in the original estamboli polo recipe. This was the recipe I always cooked when I was going to college, because it was much faster and easier. You easily shave off an hour of cooking time by using ground beef. Back then I used canned green beans which didn’t require any cooking, so I was able to save even more time. If using canned beans, there is no need to add water. Simply cook your ground beef and combine with the green beans.

Estamboli Polo with Ground Beef (Green Bean Rice)

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1.5 hr
Ready in: 1 hour 40 min
Yields: 4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

Meat Mixture:

1 medium onion peeled and chopped
3 tablespoons oil
3/4 pound ground beef
½ teaspoon salt
¼  teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon turmeric
3 heaping tablespoons tomato paste
1 pound frozen cut green beans
1/8 teaspoon saffron (optional)

Rice:

2 cups long grain rice washed and drained
3½ cups water
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon salt

INSTRUCTIONS

For meat mixture: heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat.  Add chopped onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add ground beef and cook until juices evaporate, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, salt, pepper and turmeric. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes. Add frozen green beans , saffron and ½ cup water. Bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until beans are tender, about 10 minutes. Add more water if needed.

For rice: Bring 3½ cups water to a boil in a 4.5-quart pot. Add rice, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons oil and 2 tablespoons butter. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the rice has absorbed all the water and formed small holes on top (do not cover the pot). Pour rice into a bowl and set aside.

If using a rice cooker method, add all the ingredients to the pot of the rice maker. Start the cooking cycle and half way through the cycle, when all the water is gone, pour the rice into a bowl and set aside.

Assembly: Add 1 tablespoon oil to the same pot used to cook the rice. Place 1/3 of the rice on the bottom of the pot followed by 1/3 of the meat mixture.  Continue to alternate the layers until all the ingredients are used. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke several holes in the rice, all the way to the bottom of the pot to allow steam to escape.  Place a clean dishtowel or 2 layers of paper towel over the pot and cover firmly with a lid to absorb the steam.

Simmer on medium-high heat for 5 minutes then lower heat to medium-low and cook for 25 minutes.

To serve, gently spoon the rice mixture onto a serving platter, lightly mixing the ingredients. The bottom of the rice develops a crispy crust (tadigh) that can be served on a separate plate. To make a thicker crust use more oil on the bottom of the pot and simmer the rice longer, up to an hour.

Estamboli Polo (Green Beans Rice)

Tags

basmati rice, cooking rice, crispy crust, estamboli, estamboli polo, green bean rice, green beans, Persian recipes, Persian rice, Polo, red rice, saffron, steamed rice, tadig, tadigh

Estamboli polo is one of the favorite rice dishes among Persians. This version that I later learned is actually called loobia polo, uses beef and green beans.  My mother-in-law who was a Tehrani and a great cook, always called this dish estamboli polo. She just recently learned that it was actually called loobia polo as Simmon mentioned in the comment section, so my apologies and thanks to Simmon for the correction.

Estamboli Polo (Green Beans Rice)

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 2 hour 30 mins
Ready in: 2 hour 45 min
Yields: 6 to 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

For meat:

1 large onion, peeled and chopped
4 tablespoons oil
2 pounds good quality chuck beef, cut into ½-inch cubes
6 tablespoons tomato paste
1½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon turmeric
¼ teaspoon ground saffron (optional)
2½ cups water
2 pounds fresh or frozen cut green beans, about 6 cups
2 tablespoons butter

For rice:

10 cups water
3 cups long grain basmati rice washed and drained
1 tablespoon salt
4 tablespoons oil (divided)

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat oil in a deep nonstick pan over medium high heat. Add chopped onions. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 to 7 minutes or until onions are slightly golden. Increase heat to high, add meat and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, salt, pepper and turmeric. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes or until the meat is slightly browned. Add 2½ cups water. Bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium low, cover and cook for about 50 minutes. Add green beans, saffron and 2 tablespoons butter. Cook for 30 minutes or until beans are tender. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Bring 10 cups of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil in a large nonstick pot. Add rice; stir and return back to a boil. Lower heat to medium; cook for about 6 to 7 minutes or until rice rises to the top. Drain in a fine mesh colander.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in the same pot. Arrange one-third of the rice on the bottom of the pot, top with a third of the meat mixture. Repeat alternating the layers until all the ingredients are used. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke several holes in the rice, all the way to the bottom of the pot to allow steam to escape. Place a clean dishtowel or 2 layers of paper towel over the pot and cover firmly with a lid to absorb the steam. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Pour ¼ cup water mixed with the remaining oil (2 tablespoons) over the rice. Lower heat to medium low, cook for 1 hour.

To serve, gently spoon the rice mixture onto a serving plate lightly mixing the ingredients. The bottom of the rice develops a crisp crust that you can serve on a separate plate.

Estamboli Polo (Green Beans Rice)

Heat oil in a deep nonstick pan over medium high heat. Add chopped onions. Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes or until onions are slightly golden.

Increase heat to high, add meat and cook for 5 minutes.

Add tomato paste, salt, pepper and turmeric.

Cook for about 10 minutes or until juices are gone and meat is slightly browned.

Add 2½ cups water. Bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium low, cover and cook for about 50 minutes.

Add green beans, saffron and 2 tablespoons butter. Cook for 30 minutes or until beans are cooked. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Bring 10 cups of water to a boil in a large nonstick pan. Add rice and 2 teaspoons salt. Cook over medium high heat for about 6 to 7 minutes or until rice rises to the top. Drain in a fine mesh colander.

Add 4 tablespoons oil to the same pot. Add a layer of rice to the pan followed by a layer of meat mixture. Continue to alternate the layers until all the ingredients are used including the meat sauce.

Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke several holes in the rice, all the way to the bottom of the pot to allow steam to escape.

Place a clean dishtowel or 2 layers of paper towel over the pot and cover firmly with a lid to absorb the steam. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Pour ¼ cup water mixed with ¼ cup oil (4 tablespoons) over the rice. Lower heat to medium low, cook for 1 hour.

To serve, gently spoon the rice mixture onto a serving plate lightly mixing the ingredients. The bottom of the rice develops a crisp crust that you can serve on a separate plate.