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Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Dampokhtak, Persian turmeric rice with fava beans

Dampokhtak is a Persian turmeric rice with fava beans, cooked in a single pot and served with a fried egg and plain yogurt. For 4 people, it takes 45 minutes, rates as easy, and costs €2.10 per serving. The key to success is rinsing the rice well and letting it rest undisturbed under the lid for separate, fluffy grains.

Tonight we're traveling to Iran with golden turmeric rice and fava beans, all in one pot, topped with a fried egg.

Dampokhtak, Persian turmeric rice with fava beans
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.10
Calories per person
570 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer
The kids
They generally like it

Dampokhtak smells of turmeric bloomed in hot oil and fresh dill tossed through tender fava beans. The basmati rice soaks up all these flavors grain by grain as it cooks, while a fried egg on top adds a runny yolk that coats everything once you break it.

It's a green and golden dish that feels like spring on a plate, perfect for a weeknight when you want a complete meal without juggling three pots. Kids love cracking their egg into the rice, and the plain yogurt on the side wins over anyone less sure about turmeric. Mon Chou brings you this simple trip to Iran, ready in 45 minutes.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Basmati riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Turmericoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Frozen foods

  • Frozen fava beans 300 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 2
  • Garlic 2 cloves
  • Fresh dill 1 bunch

Dairy

  • Eggs 4
  • Plain yogurt 4 pot

Allergens Lactose, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Rinse the rice in clear water until it no longer runs cloudy, then let it soak in salted water while you prepare the rest.

    That cloudy starch is what makes rice clump, so don't skip the rinsing.

  2. Cook the sliced onions and garlic in the oil until well browned, add the turmeric and let it warm through for a few seconds. 8 min

    The turmeric should just perfume the oil, if it burns it turns bitter.

  3. Add the thawed fava beans, chopped dill, then the drained rice, cover with water to the level of the rice, and season with salt and pepper.

    Save the dill stems for the bottom of the pot, they add flavor without you having to bite into them.

  4. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook over very low heat until the water is absorbed, then let it rest off the heat. 20 min

    Don't lift the lid while it cooks, the steam is doing the work.

  5. Fry the eggs in a little oil, then serve the rice with one egg per plate and a pot of yogurt on the side. 5 min

    Spoon hot oil over the egg white instead of flipping it, that way the yolk stays runny.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use a heavy bottomed pot, it spreads heat more evenly and keeps the rice from sticking during the rest.
  • If your fava beans have a thick skin, peel it off after thawing, the rice will feel more tender in the mouth.
  • Taste the cooking water before covering the pot, that's your last easy chance to adjust the salt.

The variations

  • Swap the fava beans for frozen peas, the flavor turns milder and the cooking time stays just as fast.
  • For an egg free version, serve the rice with roasted chickpeas and extra yogurt for creaminess.
  • For rushed kids, blend part of the fava beans into the rice so they disappear into the dish.

What to serve it with

  • A cucumber and fresh mint salad
  • Warm flatbread
  • A light black tea

Storage

Dampokhtak keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well without the egg, for up to 2 months. Reheat the rice in a pan with a splash of water to bring back its softness, and fry a fresh egg just before serving.

Questions about this dish

Can I use a different rice instead of basmati?

Basmati is best because its long grains stay separate after cooking. A regular long grain rice also works, but avoid short grain rice, which would make the dish sticky.

Do you really need to soak the rice before cooking?

Yes, even a short soak while you prepare the onions helps the rice cook evenly. It also reduces the number of broken grains by the end of cooking.

Can you make dampokhtak ahead of time?

You can make the rice with fava beans a few hours ahead and reheat it gently before serving. Fry the egg at the last minute so the yolk stays runny.

How do you know when the water is fully absorbed before resting the rice?

Small holes appear on the surface of the rice and you no longer hear bubbling. That's your cue to turn off the heat and let the covered pot rest.

How long does it take to make a dampokhtak, a Persian turmeric rice with fava beans?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a dampokhtak, a Persian turmeric rice with fava beans?

About 570 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 dampokhtak, a Persian turmeric rice with fava beans cost?

About €2.10 per serving, or €8.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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