Vegeterian "Polo Goje"

Are you familiar with "polo goje"? It’s a beautiful dish layered with tomato sauce and rice at the bottom, followed by caramelized onions (the more, the better). It’s one of my favorite dishes since i was a little kid.

This recipe is served across the Middle East in various forms and goes by differing names, depending on where you are.

"Polo goje" is a seriously inexpensive vegetarian meal that you can make any time of the week.

It’s also special diet-friendly, since it’s gluten free and easily vegan & dairy free & it's perfect for your kids. Want to learn how to make it?

Ingredients:

2 cups of basmati rice

1 onion, sliced

1 tomato puree

2 tomatoes

1 tsp of turmeric

Olive oil

Salt & pepper

1 tsp bloomed saffron

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp butter (optional for those who are not vegeterian)

Method:

In a medium pan, add 4 cups of water and add your rinsed rice to it to cook for about 6-7’.

Rinse and drain your rice and set it aside.

In a saucepan, add 2 tbsp of olive oil and add your sliced onions with turmeric. Sauté for 7-8’ until becomes golden brown.

Add tomato puree and let it sauté for 2’. Add cinnamon, salt & pepper.

Add fresh diced tomatoes with 1/4 cup water and let it cook on medium heat until becomes like a sauce.

Place your rice pan on the heat again and add 2 tbsp of olive oil.

Add one layer of rice to the pan and one layer of sauce until both finish.

Add your bloomed saffron with 3-4 tbsp water to the pan and cover it with a lid. Let it cook for 40-45’.

Before serving you can add 1 tbsp of butter (for those who are not vegeterian) or olive oil to your rice and then serve it.