My Family’s Take on Persian Lubia Polo
my favorite Persian dish!
My Mom’s Lubia Polo (with a few shortcuts)
If you came to my house growing up, or even now, there’s a good chance you’d be served Lubia Polo. It’s the dish I always asked my mom to make. We’d even have it at Thanksgiving alongside the turkey and mashed potatoes. And honestly… It was always the first thing gone.
It’s cozy, flavorful, and nostalgic. My mom used to make huge batches of it when she’d visit me as an adult and freeze it so I’d have some stashed away for weeks. It’s always been my comfort food. The kind of meal that makes me feel instantly home.
Now, I make it for my own family. The other night, Olive (my two-year-old) was eating it with her hands. Asking for more between bites. I could’ve cried. I love that she craves the same food I grew up loving.
This version is just like my mom’s. Simple, unfussy, and shortcut-friendly. Frozen green beans for the win. It’s one of my favorite meals to serve when friends come over, and it always hits.
Here’s exactly how I make it!
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My Mom’s Persian Lubia Polo (my spin off of it)
Ingredients
Rice
2 cups long grain basmati rice
3 cups water
+ 2-3 tablespoons avocado oil (for crispy rice)
Green Bean Ground Beef Mixture
2 tablespoons avocado oil (divided)
2 cups chopped frozen green beans, get the ones cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads, dissolved in 2 tablespoons hot water
Directions
Cook the Rice:
Rinse the Basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
In a large pot, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add the rice and cook for about 5-7 minutes until it's slightly tender but not fully cooked. You are looking for rice to be “al dente.”
Drain the rice and set it aside.
Prepare the Green Beans:
Heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the green beans and sauté for 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Prepare the Ground Beef:
In the same pan, heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft and golden brown.
Add the ground beef to the onion in the skillet. Cook until the meat is browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.
Once the meat has cooked, stir in the turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, salt, and pepper, mixing well.
Add Tomato Paste and Saffron:
Stir in the tomato paste with 3 tablespoons of water. Stir to combine.
Stir in the green beans and cook for another 5 minutes until they start to soften.
Bloom the saffron by lightly crushing the threads using a mortar and pestle to break them down. Place the 1/2 teaspoon of saffron into a small bowl or cup. Add 2-3 tablespoons of warm (not boiling) water to the saffron. The water should be warm enough to release the saffron’s color and aroma but not so hot that it destroys the delicate flavors.
Add the saffron into the ground beef and green beans.Cook for another 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
IMPORTANT TIP! In the last 5 minutes of cooking, turn the heat on medium high, with no lid on the skillet. And allow any juice to evaporate. You want to make sure there is no juice in this stew before layering. Remove from the pot and set aside to get ready for layering.
Layer the Rice and Beef Mixture:
In a non-stick pot, start by adding 2-3 tablespoons of avocado oil.
Then layer on a thin layer of rice on the bottom of the pan
Add a layer of the beef and green bean mixture over the rice.
Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of rice on top.
Steam the Rice:
Make a few holes in the rice with the back of a spoon to allow steam to escape.
Cover the pot with a lid and cook over low heat for 40 minutes until the rice is fully cooked and fluffy, rotating the pan every 15 minute to allow for even cooking.
Serve:
Flip the dish over into a serving dish. Serve with plain greek yogurt.I’d love to hear how you make taco night your own!
Questions or comments?
Planning to make this? I’d love to hear how it turns out. Did you crisp the rice? Make any swaps? Hit reply and tell me! I seriously read every message and love seeing how these recipes come to life in your kitchen. Or tag me if you share it, I’ll repost a few of your creations!
Thanks for being here, see you next week!
xx, Jazz
Yum, yum!