Meatballs with basmati rice

Meatballs with basmati rice

Meatballs with basmati rice (Ghelgheli polo) is a simple Iranian rice dish. It is cooked with minced beef, onion, salt, black pepper and basmati white rice. This dish goes well with Mast-o-Khiar. For Mast-o-khiar recipe click here.

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 Preparation

• Peel and grate the onion
• prepare the rice
  • washing rice
    add 2 cups of dried rice to a medium size bowl. Add some cold water to it and gently scrub it and drain it. Refill the bowl with cold water and repeat this process until the water inside bowl becomes clear. (washing rice removes powdery substance and prevents rice grains from sticking together)
  • Soaking rice
    Refill the bowl with cold water and add two tablespoon of salt. soak it for 2-24 hours.
    (Soaking rice with salt water add flavor to your rice)

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 Cooking method

Step 1

Place the grind beef in a large bowl. Add the grated onion, a pinch of salt and black pepper to the bowl. Wash your hands and mix them up well with your hand. Then wet your hands and roll meatballs (If you roll the meatballs with dry hands, the minced beef mixture will stick to your hands and finger). After you are done with rolling meatballs put them on a plate and place them in a fridge for one hour.

Step 2

Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a large frying pan. Add the meatballs and fry them for 15 minutes. Stir them occasionally. After the color of the meatballs changed into brown. Turn off the heat and set the it aside.

Step 3

Use a large pot and pour 10 cups of water in it. Add 2 tablespoons of Salt and some Oil. Place the lid and bring it to a boil over high heat. When the water starts boiling add 2 cups of rinsed Basmati rice and stir occasionally. After 5 minutes scoop some rice grains from the water by a spatula or a slotted spoon. Taste to make sure the rice grains are soft but not fully cooked (Al dente), then turn off the heat. Pour the rice into the colander to drain and rinse it with some warm water . Set it aside.

Step 4

In a pot heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil over a medium heat. Add a layer of rinsed rice and a layer of meatballs. Very gently mix the rice and meatballs and continue layering until you are out of the ingredients. Then splash some cinnamon on the top.

Step 5

Poke three holes With a handle of a wooden spatula or spoon in the rice. Then pour ¼ cup water mixed with 1 teaspoon of cooking oil. Place the lid and let it cook over medium heat for six minutes. After 6 minutes , Turn the heat to medium-low and place the lid of the pot . Make sure that the lid is on properly. After 40 minutes the rice is ready to be served.