Persian Green Bean Rice

INGREDIENTS  

Green beans Stew

• 500 g Ground beef It can be replaced with lamb or beef stew chops or chicken
• 2 Onions Large
• 500 g Green beans
• 3 tbsp Tomato paste
• 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
• 1 tsp Turmeric
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup boiling water

Rice

• 2 1/2 cups Long-grain basmati rice
• 2 tsp Salt
• 6 cups water
• 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp bloomed Saffron

INSTRUCTIONS 

Green Beans Stew

• Start with washing and removing both ends of the green beans. Then chop all the beans to 1-inch tall pieces.
• Small dice onions and sautéing them in a pan with vegetable oil on medium heat until it becomes transparent.
• Then add cut beans on to the onions, fry them both together until the green beans become shiny green and soft.
• Add the ground lamb and sauté until brown.
• Add turmeric, cinnamon or any other spice you like.
• Add the tomato paste for more flavour and colour.
• Add boiling water, combine everything well, cover and cook for about 20 minutes.

Rice

• Bring a pot of water with salt to a rapid boil.
• Pour the washed, soaked rice into boiling water, bring it back to boil, cook for about 8-10 minutes or until rice grains are long, soft on the outside and firm in the center.
• Drain and rinse well with cool water, as it helps separate the rice grains and bring about more fluffy rice.

Steaming and mixing the rice and green beans mixture

1. Add vegetable oil to a large non-stick pot.
2. With a large spatula pour about 1/3 of parboiled rice, a little bloomed saffron over the rice and on 1/2 of green beans mixture, build up the layers ( rice, saffron, green bean, and always finishing with rice) into a pyramid shape away from the sides of the pot.
3. In order to release the steam make 4-5 holes in the rice with the bottom of a spatula. 
4. Pour a little boiling water on the sides, cover the pot with kitchen towel raped lid and cook for 5 minutes on high heat until the rice starts steaming, lower heat to and steam for another 30-40 minutes.
5. When the rice is fully cooked gently fluff the rice a bit to have the beans mixture and rice combined.