Baghali Polo - Persian Dill Rice
Baghali Polow is a Persian Dill Rice made with fava beans, broad beans, or lima beans. My grandma taught me to make this recipe with frozen lima beans and dried dill. This makes it easy to make all year long, and the dried dill packs a ton more flavor than fresh.
Servings: 4
Calories: 315kcal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups basmati rice
- 1 cup lima beans frozen, or fava beans or broad beans
- ½ cup dried dill
- 3 tbsp sea salt
- 5 tbsp flavorless oil canola, sunflower seed, vegetable, etc.
- 1 pinch saffron optional
- water
Instructions
- Bring about 2/3 a pot water of water to boil. Add 3 tbsp salt.
- In the meantime, wash rice 3 times with cold to lukewarm water until the water runs clear.
- Add the rice and lima beans to the boiling water and gently stir. Bring it back to a boil, then remove the lid to keep from overflowing.
- When al dente, strain. Do not overcook! If salty, rinse with cold water. Shake colander to remove as much water as possible.
- Add 3 tbsp of oil in a pot. Then gently add half of the drained rice and lima beans. Top with the dill, then add the rest of the rice and lima beans.
- Using the back side of a kitchen utensil, make 6 deep holes in the rice, then put the lid back on. Cook on medium heat, watching it carefully.
- When the lid gets foggy, pour a little oil over the rice - about 2 tbsp. Then put the lid back on and turn the heat to the lowest possible setting.
- Cook 20-30 min from when the oil is poured on top.
- If adding saffron, grind the saffron using a mortar and pestle. Then, steep it in 2 tablespoons of hot water while the rice is steaming. When the rice has finished cooking, add the steeped saffron and water to the top of the rice.
- Fluff the entire rice mixture with a fork to mix in the dill and (optional) saffron.
Video
Notes
You want the rice to still have a little bite. Persian rice is never served mushy.
If your pot does not have a glass lid, check for condensation on the top of the lid.
This recipe is traditionally made with fava beans, but I usually make it with frozen lima beans.
Nutrition
Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5236mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
