Loobia Polo(Shevid Loobia) is an Iranian Pilaf made with Persian rice, cowpeas and dill. This dish is served with chicken, lamb or fish.
What are the Ingredients?
- 3 cups Persian rice
- 8 cups water
- 1 cup chopped fresh dills or 1/2cup dried dills
- 1.5 cups cowpeas
- 4tbs butter or olive oil
- salt
- 1tsp turmeric
- brewed saffron
| Preparation time: 20 minutes | Cooking time: 120 minutes | Cooking method: cooking |
| Cooking Skills: Easy | Meal: Lunch/dinner | Suitable for: 4 people |
How to prepare Loobia Polo?
Step 1: Preparing Ingredients
Rinse and soak the cowpeas in water for 2-3 hours. Change the water 2-3 times.
Rinse and soak the rice in salted water for at least 2 hours.
Finely chop rinsed and drained dills.
Brew saffron.
Step 2: Preparing Cowpeas
Drain the cowpeas and cook them in a pot over medium heat for 30-45 minutes until fully cooked. Drain in a colander and rinse, set aside.
Step 3: Preparing Rice
Fill a large nonstick pot with water, and add some turmeric. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Add the rinsed rice and turmeric to the boiling water, and continue cooking over medium to high heat. Stir occasionally.
After 5-6 mins. scoop some rice grains from the water using a slotted spoon. Break one grain in half to make sure it is ‘’al dente’’. The rice should be firm in the center and soft on the outside. Add the dill and cooked cowpeas to the pot and stir gently for 1-2minutes. Turn off the heat. Drain the mixture in a colander,rinse with cold water, and set aside.
Step 4: Preparing Tadig and cooking Rice
Melt 2tablespoons of butter in the same pot over low heat. Now put the mixture of rice, dill, and cowpeas into the pot and shape a pyramid. Wrap the lid with a clean cotton towel and cover the pot. Steam the rice over medium heat for 45minutes.
Step 5: Serve
Scoop Loobia polo onto a large platter and shape a pyramid. Pour some brewed saffron on top. Put a large plate on top of the pot and turn it over so that Tadig comes out perfectly.
You can serve this dish with chicken, lamb, beef or fish, Shirazi salad, and Torshi(pickles).
Bon Apetit.
Useful links:
Delicious Iranian Side Dishes
Different types of Tadig
How to brew saffron?
