Rice With Lentils And Dates
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 lb lamb or 1 lb beef, cubes
- salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1 cup lentils, rinsed
- 1/2 teaspoon saffron
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 cup pitted dates, chopped
- 1/3 cup blanched almond
- wash and drain rice.
- heat 2 T butter and fry the onion till golden; add the meat and saute stirring and turning the pieces till browned all over. Cover with water, add salt and pepper, cinnamon and allspice and simmer for 1 hour; or till meat is tender and most of water absorbed.
- boil the lentils in water for about 20 minutes till done, adding salt when they begin to soften, drain.
- now boil the rice in a pan for 10 minutes till not quite tender and still a little underdone. Drain the rice.
- Melt 2 T butter in bottom of pan, then stir in 2 T of the saffron water and about a third of the rice.
- spread half the meat on top, then sprinkle on half the lentils, raisins, dates and almonds if using.
- Cover with a layer of rice and remaining meat, lentils, raisins and dates and finish with the rice that is left.
- Melt the remaining butter, stir in the remaining saffron water and pour all over. Cook covered on very low heat for 20-30 minutes.
basmati rice, butter, onion, lamb, salt, cinnamon, allspice, lentils, saffron, raisins, dates, blanched almond
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/rice-with-lentils-and-dates-232781 (may not work)