Dairy & Egg Free Adas Polo (Lentil Rice)

Instructions

1. 1Place the 2 cups Basmati rice in one bowl and the 1 cup Brown or green lentils in another bowl. Cover both with cool water and swish them around with your hands. Drain the water and repeat this rinsing process until the water runs clear for both the rice and the lentils. Drain them well.
2. 2Peel and dice the 1 medium Onion into small, roughly 0.635 cm pieces. Measure out the 0.5 cup Pitted dates and chop them into small pieces, about the same size as the diced onion.
3. 3Place a large, heavy-bottomed pot on the stove and set the heat to medium. Add the 2 tablespoons Olive oil to the pot. Once the oil is shimmering, add the diced onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the onion pieces are soft and translucent, but not browned.
4. 4Add the 0.5 teaspoon Cinnamon and 0.5 teaspoon Turmeric to the pot with the softened onions. Stir constantly for 1 minute until the spices are very fragrant. Be careful not to let them burn.
5. 5Add the rinsed 2 cups Basmati rice, the rinsed 1 cup Brown or green lentils, the 0.5 cup Raisins, the chopped 0.5 cup Pitted dates, the 1 teaspoon Salt, and the 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper to the pot. Stir everything together for about 1 minute to coat the ingredients with the spices and oil.
6. 6Pour the 3 cups Water into the pot. Stir once to combine everything. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Once boiling, immediately reduce the heat to the lowest setting possible. Cover the pot tightly with a lid.
7. 7Let the pot simmer, covered, for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time. The rice is cooked when all the water has been absorbed and the grains are tender. You may hear gentle bubbling sounds, but it should be quiet.
8. 8Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, still covered, for 10 minutes. This resting period allows the rice to finish steaming and become fluffy. After resting, uncover the pot and use a fork to gently fluff the Adas Polo, separating the grains of rice and lentils before serving.

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