Persian food is some of my favorite in the world thanks to the use of different flavors and spices. This Iranian recipe is a lot easier to make than I thought it would be and it’s a crowd pleaser. My kids and husband ate it up without hesitation and have already asked when I’ll be making it again.
The one thing that we did notice when making this is that we would have liked it to be a bit spicier. But that issue was solved when we just add a spoonful of harissa to our bowls and mixed it up. If you love Persian food recipes, but want something easy this is a great option!
Iranian Estamboli Polo
This Iranian recipe is impressive enough to make for a party but easy enough for a weeknight dinner. You'll be fighting for the crispy potatoes at the bottom!
Ingredients
- 2 cups of dry rice
- 1 lb. of green beans
- 1 medium potato peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 lb. of ground beef
- 6 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 tsp. salt (1 tsp for meat and 1 tsp for rice)
- 2 tsp. pepper,
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
- pinch of saffron threads
- harissa or hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
This recipe uses cooked rice. I cook mine separately by adding jasmine rice to a pot and rinsing 3-4 times. Then add enough water and 1 tsp salt to cover the rice and have an additional inch (3-4cm) of water above the rice.
Boil the water until the rice absorbs most of the water. You'll see small holes form in the rice. Turn off the heat, cover with a towel and lid of the pot and leave for 10-15 minutes.
Clean the beans and cut into equal sizes pieces. Fresh beans really work well but frozen is an option. Clean the potato and slice into thin round pieces and set aside.
In a large pot, add olive oil and onion to the pan and saute until the onion is soft. Add the ground beef and begin to brown.
When it is halfway through cooking add the spices; salt, pepper, turmeric, cinnamon and tomato paste and stir.
Add the green beans now and mix. The pan will have some liquid but add a little additional if it looks dry to you.
Layering the Dish
Crush the saffron threads and place into a small bowl along with 3-4 Tbsp of warm water.
In a large pot, pour in 2 Tbsp. olive oil and arrange the sliced potato on the bottom. Turn the heat to medium.
Add a layer of rice and half of the saffron water. Next add a layer of the meat and beef. Repeat the process until everything is used up.
Cover the pot with a towel and the lid of the pot.
Cook for 25-30 minutes over low heat. The bottom of the potatoes will crisp up and may make a crackling noise but they shouldn't burn.
To serve, place a large plate over the pot and invert so that the potato portion is on top.
This makes a lot of food and could probably feed more than 6 people if you had additional food on the table. Iranian food is heavy on portion sizes so don’t shy away! It’s a perfect one-pot dish though and I know we will be making it regularly in our house.
Mikey
Wednesday 15th of January 2025
This meal was a real surprise in a number of ways, coming in within the middle of the week and at short notice. It was on the coattails of another recipe on this website, which is due to be cooked for imminent guests as of writing. I saw this recipe, and I am a big fan of all things Persian, along with having most of what was needed on hand.
Nevertheless, it was something outside of my normal schtick with cooking - that is, I am keen on spices and spicy foods with no hint of subtlety to be found (the option of harissa and hot sauce notwithstanding). Therefore, it was a gamble for me and one that paid off well. The meat was good and tender, those crispy bottom potatoes were like a hidden treasure, and there was heaps leftover at the end.
Both my parents give a hearty approval, and wish for me to make it again down the line. Additionally, within the kitchen I can officially tick of Iran/Persian for the cuisines that I have given a burl to. Middle Eastern food, or anything from a Muslim country, is guaranteed to be both filling and tasty. Persian might take the cake (or masghati) regarding the Middle East.