Traditional Persian Rice Dish with Lentils, Dates, Raisins and Fried Onions

This is an easy and delicious dish which is favourite in many Iranian households. Cooked lentils, sweet and sticky dates and raisins lightly fried and golden fried onions give the rice tons of texture and flavour. If you are a meat lover, then add some fried lamb or beef mine to the mixture. This version however goes down well with vegetarian friends:-)

Ingredients:

• 200 g Basmati Rice
• 150 g Green Lentils
• 400 ml Vegetable stock
• 150 g Raisins
• 120 g Dates, stones and cut into cubes
• 2 large Onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 25 g Butter
• 3 tbsp Olive oil
• Salt and Pepper

Method:

• Wash the rice with cold water until water is cleared. Leave the rice in the cold water to soak.
• Meanwhile, cook the lentils in boiling water for 12-15 minutes (some types take longer to cook). Drain the lentils and set aside.
• Drain the rice and pour in the pan with the boiling vegetable stock. Bring the stock to boil, then when rice grains are slightly soft, cover the pan tightly and cook over low flame for 8-10 minutes. Then remove from the heat and leave to rest.
• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the onions for 7-10 minutes until golden, then drain on kitchen towels.
• Melt the butter in a pan and add raisins and dates. Fry gentely for 3-5 minutes.
• Fluff off the rice with fork and in a bowl mix the rice with drained lentils.
• Mix the fried onions with raisins and dates.
• Place the rice and lentil mixture on a serving plate and cover with the onion and raisin mixture before serving.
• Serve with Greek style yogurt.