Baghali polow (Persian feva beans and rice mix)

Ingredients:

Rice, basmati; 2 cups (350 g); Dill , dried,1 Ľ cup (28 g) use dried, or soaked and drained; Dried green feva beans ? cup (84 g); Oil, 2 tbsp (30 ml); Salt, coarse, 2 tbsp (30 ml) use when soaking rice; Saffron, ground a pinch dissolved in 1 tbsp boiling water

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Preparation:

Soak dried feva beans in cold water for at least 1 hour, or overnight, cook in a small saucepan with 2 cups of water and 1 tsp (5 ml) of salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, drain and set aside. Rinse the rice well; soak it with coarse salt for at least 2 hours to overnight for best results. Bring to a boil 6 cups (1.5 litre) of water; add rice, dill and cooked feva beans, cook for about 8 minutes until the grains of rice are soft and cooked (pay attention not to over cook the rice). Drain the water, rinse rice mix with cold water and set aside to drain all remaining water. In a non-stick pot, mix 1/3 cup water with 2 tbsp of oil, bring to a boil, and remove half of oil and water mix, add saffron, and set aside. To the remaining oil and water mix in the pot, add enough rice mix to cover a single layer at the bottom of the pot (a few spoonfuls). Add the rest of rice mix on top of this layer in such a way that nothing touches the sides (almost in a pyramid shape). Cover tightly with “Damkon” (or paper towel); continue heating at medium high for 5 minutes until you will see the steam. Remove the lid, spread evenly the rest of oil and water with saffron on the rice mix, cover again tightly, reduce heat to low and let slowly steam cook for at least 35 minutes to get a good Tadig, a delicious crispy crust formed at the bottom. For best results, use a serving spoon to remove rice mix and place it on a serving plate. As you do this, try to mix parts with saffron with other parts to get uniformly coloured rice in your serving plate. You should also be able to remove Tadig or the layer at the bottom in one piece (or small pieces). Place it on another serving plate and bring to the table along with the rice mix and serve.