Adas Polo (Adas=Lentils, Polo=Rice)

I am pleased to announce that this recipe is from my FIRST guest editor, Nadia Shafapay:

1 cup lentils
1 large onion
2 cups basmati rice
1 T. salt
1/2 cup raisins for garnish
Dash of cinnamon


First wash the rice and let soak in warm water about 1-2 hours. While it is soaking, make your caramelized onions, and at the end add your raisins to it for garnish at the end with a dash of cinnamon. Cook your lentils separately, and put on the side.

Directions for making basmati rice:
In a bowl bring 5 cups of water to boil. Drain the pre-soaked rice and add to bowl. Add 1 T. of salt, and cook like pasta, 8-10 mins. til it is soft outside. It will be still hard inside when you then add your cooked lentils at the last minute and drain it in the sink. In a pot I add two T. of oil (I use corn oil or grape seed oil, if you can afford it), dash of zafferan (saffron), and add the mixture of rice and lentils to the pot to cook for another 20-30 mins. until the bottom is nice and crispy (in my house they fight over the bottom of the pot - it is the best part with taste of zafferan). Garnish with caramelized onions and raisin and serve. This is the vegetarian version. Some people add small meat balls to the garnish.

Thanks, Nadia!!

Count your blessings today. Count them right now!!

Love,

MM