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Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Adas polo (Persian rice with lentils, dates, and raisins)

Adas polo is a Persian rice dish with lentils, dates, and raisins, scented with cinnamon and saffron. This recipe serves 4, takes about 1 hour, has a medium difficulty level, and costs around €2.20 per serving. The key to success is steaming the rice in layers, which keeps it light and fragrant.

A Persian adas polo, rice with lentils, dates, and raisins, scented with cinnamon and saffron, a festive dish.

Adas polo (Persian rice with lentils, dates, and raisins)
Total time
1 h
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€2.20
Calories per person
760 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter

Adas polo pairs basmati rice with green lentils in a sweet and savory mix that catches you off guard the first time, then you find yourself craving it. Dates and raisins soften slowly with the onions and cinnamon, while a splash of saffron water tints a few grains a deep golden yellow. The result is a fluffy rice studded with tender bites, finished with pistachios for a bit of crunch.

This is a festive dish, perfect for a Sunday or for guests curious about Persian cooking. It takes a bit of planning, between cooking the lentils, the rice, and the layered steaming, but nothing technical is involved. Set aside a calm hour in the kitchen, with little hands on supervision once the rice is steaming.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Basmati riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Green lentilsoften in the pantry 150 g
  • Raisins 60 g
  • Cinnamonoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Saffronoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Turmericoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Pistachios 30 g
  • Sunflower oiloften in the pantry 6 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 3
  • Dates 8

Dairy

  • Butter 30 g

Allergens Tree nuts

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the lentils in salted water until almost tender. 20 min

    They'll finish cooking along with the rice.

  2. Sauté the sliced onions until golden, then add the chopped dates, raisins, and cinnamon. 15 min

    Cook gently, the fruit should just plump up, not caramelize.

  3. Boil the rice in salted water for a few minutes, then drain it. 6 min

    The rice should stay firm, it finishes cooking with steam.

  4. Layer the rice, lentils, and fruit mixture in the pot, drizzling with butter and saffron water.

    Finish with a layer of rice to cover everything.

  5. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let it steam over very low heat. 25 min

    The towel absorbs condensation and keeps the rice light and fluffy.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick soft, moist dates rather than dry ones, they melt into the rice better and avoid tough little chunks.
  • Make sure the towel under the lid is tied back and clear of the flame, it's what keeps the rice light and fluffy.
  • If your saffron isn't top quality, use less rather than more, too much turns the flavor bitter.

The variations

  • Swap the green lentils for red lentils, they cook faster but the rice will be a touch less firm.
  • For a nut free version, skip the pistachios and add a few extra raisins for sweetness and bite.
  • For a quicker weeknight version, skip the layered steaming and simply toss the cooked rice, lentils, and fruit together before serving.

What to serve it with

  • A cucumber and yogurt salad
  • Spiced black tea
  • Grilled vegetables on the side

Storage

Adas polo keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well, spread flat, for longer storage. Reheat in a pan with a splash of water or butter to bring back the fluffiness, or microwave for a few minutes.

Questions about this dish

Can you make adas polo ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook the lentils and prepare the onion and fruit mixture the day before. Assemble and steam the rice just before serving so it stays fluffy.

What type of rice works best for adas polo?

Basmati rice is ideal because the grains stay long and separate after steaming. Avoid short grain rice, which turns too sticky for this dish.

Can you skip the saffron?

Saffron gives a distinctive color and aroma that's hard to fully replace. You can leave it out, the dish still works but loses its signature fragrant touch.

How do you get the most flavor out of saffron?

Soak the pinch of saffron in a little hot water for a few minutes before using it. This releases far more color and aroma than using the saffron dry.

How long does it take to make a fragrant Persian adas polo?

Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a fragrant Persian adas polo?

About 760 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a fragrant Persian adas polo cost?

About €2.20 per serving, or €8.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains tree nuts. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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