Where shall I begin with my love and hate relationship with Lubia Polow? First and foremost, it is one of my most favorite Polows. The first time I ever attempted to make Lubia Polow it was an epic, and I mean EPIC disaster.  Then I went on strike and never made it for another 12 years….a little dramatic, I know…the irony is that when I made it again, it was  nothing to write home about.  The thing that got me both times, I realized later, that my rice had turned all mushy because of the juices from the green beans and meat.

Last week I gave it another try.  I was finally happier with the results.  The Sous Chef was all over it and I had to literally pack it up and take it away so that I could give some to Sheila before he ate it all!

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb meat
1 onion
4 garlic cloves
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 lb green beans
1 14.5 can diced tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1-2 tbsp advieh
3 tbsp brewed saffron
3 cups rice
oil
salt & peppe

Small dice onion and crush each garlic and remove skin.  Sauté in oil until translucent.  Add turmeric and cinnamon and cook for a few minutes longer.

Cut the meat in small cubes.

Add meat to the onion.  Season with salt and pepper. Sear meat until brown.  Add 1 cup of water along with the tomato juice from the can to of diced tomatoes.  Cover and cook for 1 hour.

In the mean time sauté green beans in oil for a few minutes.

Add drained diced tomatoes.

Add meat only to the green beans. Take 1/2 cup of the meat juice and add tomato paste and mix well.  Add to the green beans and meat. Season with salt and pepper and cook uncovered until the juices have evaporated and the green beans are almost cooked.

Par-boil rice as demonstrated on Cooking Rice for Polow post.

Add 2 tablespoons of canola oil, 2 tablespoons of water, and 1 tablespoon of brewed saffron to the bottom of a non-stick pot.  Shake the pot. Add a layer of rice.

Cover with a layer of the green beans and tomato mixtures.  Sprinkle some advieh on top. Repeat layering until both rice and green beans and meat mixture are gone always ending with a layer of white rice. Be sure to add advieh as you go.

Cover rice and cook on high for 10 minutes.

Mix 2 tablespoons of brewed saffron with 2 tablespoons of canola oil and pour over rice.  Wrap lid in a towel, cover the pot and cook on low for 1 hour.

Lubia Polow is often eaten with plain yogurt of Mast-o-khiar.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb meat
1 onion
4 garlic cloves
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 lb green beans
1 14.5 can diced tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1-2 tbsp advieh

Small dice onion and crush each garlic and remove skin.  Sauté in oil until translucent.  Add turmeric and cinnamon and cook for a few minutes longer. Cut the meat in small cubes. Add meat to the onion.  Season with salt and pepper. Sear meat until brown.  Add 1 cup of water along with the tomato juice from the can to of diced tomatoes.  Cover and cook for 1 hour.

In the mean time sauté green beans in oil for a few minutes. Add drained diced tomatoes. Add meat only to the green beans. Take 1/2 cup of the meat juice and add tomato paste and mix well.  Add to the green beans and meat. Season with salt and pepper and cook uncovered until the juices have evaporated and the green beans are almost cooked.

Par-boil rice as demonstrated on Cooking Rice for Polow post.

Add 2 tablespoons of canola oil, 2 tablespoons of water, and 1 tablespoon of brewed saffron to the bottom of a non-stick pot.  Shake the pot. Add a layer of rice.  Cover with a layer of the green beans and tomato mixtures.  Sprinkle some advieh on top. Repeat layering until both rice and green beans and meat mixture are gone always ending with a layer of white rice. Be sure to add advieh as you go.

Cover rice and cook on high for 10 minutes. Mix 2 tablespoons of brewed saffron with 2 tablespoons of canola oil and pour over rice.  Wrap lid in a towel, cover the pot and cook on low for 1 hour.