Iran has a rich culinary history, and rice resides at the heart of the Persian cooking tradition. Rice was likely introduced to Iran from India during the rule of Darius the Great in the 6th century BCE. Over time it became a staple food item for Iranians, cultivated in many sophisticated varieties. A multitude of flavorful and fragrant rice dishes have emerged throughout the centuries… saffron-scented rice, cooked with herbs and tender meats; sweet rice with dried fruits or sour cherries; vegetable rice, sometimes mixed with legumes… and for the ancient royal courts, there was even rice studded with jewels.
Over time, four methods have developed for preparing Persian rice: kateh, damy, chelow, and polo. Kateh is simply rice steamed with water, salt, oil or butter, and sometimes saffron. Damy is rice steamed more slowly and mixed with uncooked ingredients, like beans or grains. Chelow is parboiled rice mixed with seasonings and/or herbs, then slowly steamed to form a crispy tahdig (sometimes spelled tahdeeg). Polo (or polow) is a variant of chelow in which aromatic ingredients like meat, fruit, and/or vegetables are mixed into the rice. Polo rice dishes are popular for their complex, mouthwatering flavor combinations.
Which brings me to today’s recipe: Persian Dill and Lima Bean Rice. This is my favorite Persian dish, and I’ve spent the past two years looking for the perfect recipe. The original version of this dish, Baghali Polo, is most often made with young, fresh fava beans. The version I’ve grown to love is made with lima beans, but you can also use fresh young fava beans if you wish. I wanted a non-dairy version for my kosher readers; Persian cooks sometimes use butter or ghee and yogurt in their rice, but Jewish cooks prefer to make it dairy-free so it can be served with a kosher meat meal. I tried many versions from various Persian and Sephardic Jewish cookbooks, but I was never completely satisfied with the results. Then I had my Persian Jewish friend Farah teach me her way of making it. Over time, I was able to combine the methods I’d learned to develop a terrific recipe. The most challenging part was figuring out how to create a crispy, golden tahdig.
The word tahdig is Persian, meaning “bottom of the pot.” It’s a layer of crispy rice that develops on the bottom of the pot while the rice is cooking. It’s crunchy, delicious, and considered the “prized” part of the rice. The talent of an Iranian cook is often measured by his or her ability to create a quality tahdig.
Making a tahdig requires a specific set of cooking conditions, and it takes some practice to get it right. I’ve attempted to provide clear, step-by-step instructions that will help you achieve a beautiful tahdig. Make sure you have a nonstick pot on hand– any 5 quart nonstick pot will do. I generally don’t like using nonstick cookware, but I bought a cheap 5 quart pot from the grocery store just for the purpose of making Persian rice. If you have trouble the first time, don’t be discouraged… stove heat and pot thickness can vary, which means it may take some practice with your home equipment to get it just right. Even if your tahdig doesn’t turn out perfect, your rice will still be delicious. Promise!
This is one of my all time favorite side dish recipes… it’s salty, fragrant, and tastes buttery without dairy. While I enjoy the sweet Persian rice dishes, I much prefer the savory herb flavor of this dish. It’s a lovely addition to a dinner buffet. Whenever I serve it at a party, my guests are intrigued, particularly if they’ve never tried Persian rice before. It’s a real treat!
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Persian Dill and Lima Bean Rice - Baghali Polo
Ingredients
- 3 cups white basmati rice
- 12 ounces frozen baby green lima beans or fresh young fava beans, shelled and steamed till tender (1 bag)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil (I use grapeseed)
- 1 cup fresh chopped dill, or more to taste
NOTES
Instructions
- Rinse and sort the rice for a minute in the colander with cold water. Pour the rice into a medium mixing bowl and cover it with 2 inches of cold water. Let the rice soak for 90 minutes.
- Drain the rice in a colander and rinse again with cold water, shake out the excess water. Rinse and dry the mixing bowl and set aside.
- Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a 5 quart nonstick pot (using a pot with a nonstick surface is important; it will help in the formation of the crispy tahdig). Pour in the rice, beans, and salt. Stir. Bring the water back to a boil. Let the mixture boil uncovered on medium high for 8 minutes. Stir the rice periodically during cooking.
- While rice is boiling, crush the saffron threads in a mortar and pestle. Pour 1/2 cup of hot water into the mortar and let the saffron soak.
- After 8 minutes of boiling, pour the rice into a colander and rinse with lukewarm water, then drain. Rinse and dry the pot and put it back on the stove. Stir the fresh chopped dill into the rice in the colander, making sure it is well mixed throughout the rice. I use about 1 cup of chopped dill; you can use more if you like a very green rice with a strong dill flavor.
- In the medium mixing bowl, stir together 1/2 cup vegetable oil, half of the saffron water, and 1 1/2 cups of the cooked rice.
- Spread the oil and rice mixture in an even layer on the bottom of the pot. This will become your tahdig.
- Scoop the rest of the rice out of the colander and into the pot, forming a volcano-shaped mound in the middle of the pot.
- Make a hole in the center of the volcano with the handle of a wooden spoon, pushing it almost to the bottom of the pot.
- Place a thin kitchen towel over the top of the pot, being careful not to let the towel get too close to the heat source. Place the lid tightly over the top of the towel. Turn on the heat to medium and let the rice steam for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix together the remaining saffron water with remaining 1/4 cup of vegetable oil.
- After 10 minutes, remove the towel and lid from the pot and pour the saffron oil mixture evenly over the top of the rice.
- Replace the towel and lid. Turn heat to low. Let the mixture steam for 45-50 minutes longer.Move the pot to a cool surface and let it rest for 5 minutes. When ready to serve, you have two options.
- Option 1: Scoop the rice out of the pot and mound it onto a serving plate or tray, leaving a thin layer of rice undisturbed at the bottom of the pot.
- Use a spatula to loosen the crispy tahdeeg from the bottom of the pot and arrange the pieces around the cooked rice. Garnish with a little fresh dill, if desired.
- Option 2: Place a large serving plate upside down on top of the pot. Invert the pot quickly and gently unmold the rice from the pot. This will keep the tahdig intact and create a cake-like effect with the rice.
- Serve hot.
Kristin says
Thank you so much for sharing this special recipe. I had no idea that the tahdig was such a treasured part of this dish. My best friend’s Mom made this dish when I was young and I had some terrific memories of being at their house when this was dished up, cooked with chicken sometimes too. My husband made this for me today with the saffron and everything and it is truly amazing. It is just like the dish I enjoyed as a kid and have such wonderful memories of. I love it, thank you so much, this made my day!
Tori Avey says
I’m so happy to hear that Kristin! I really adore this dish, it is one of my absolute favorites. If you have leftovers, try scrambling with some eggs in the morning for breakfast. Might sound weird, but I love it!
Cristina says
Hello!
My family really enjoyed the recipe. Thank you.
Might anyone give me a tip on making the tahdig with a layer of potato? This was my favorite as a youth, but I never learned to prepare it.
David Bley says
This is very good made with basmati rice and cooked chicken mixed in (the rotisserie chicken at the grocer) and served with persian yogurt. If you are on a budget, you can leave out the saffron (the pretty color and subtle flavor will be missing) and use long grain white rice without soaking and cook in lots of boiling water for 7 minutes. When you take a grain of rice out of the boiling water and break it in half, it is done when the middle has a bright white center about as big as a pin with an outer ring that is more translucent. Do not over-boil the rice as it will become sticky instead of seperate grains. The rice will cook the rest of the way when it is being steamed. Do not skimp on the oil. It is what helps form the tadiq. If you skimp, you could end up with charcoal. The burning taste will taint the whole pot. This process is very worth the trouble as the dish is delicious.
Elle says
I too hate lima beans – terrible memories of them when I was a kid. I would fish them out of my mother’s vegetable soup and line them up around the rim of the soup bowl. So, chickpeas? Cannellini? What would you recommend?
Alex says
Well the original recipe calls for Fava Beans. They are available all over. Limas were a substitute years ago but now at least here in CA we can get fresh or frozen favas everywhere. Also, butter or butter fat is the better choice but now a days people are afraid of cholesterol !!! Lamb shanks are the meat of choice to be served with his rice. There is also a spice mixture that is sprinkled on top rice dished such as this that is great. Its a mixture of cinnamon, black cumin and dried rose petals. (1/2/2 mixture)
Lisa says
I have been looking and looking for a recipe exactly like this for years, no joke. I too have scouted out middle-eastern cookbooks and have amassed recipes similar to this without the perfect results. Not only have you shown a few things that will make my cooking better (like 10 minutes to form the tahdig instead of me always burning it!!) but you have provided lovely pictures. Bless you and I really am enjoying your blog which was recommended by the Pioneer Woman.
Tori Avey says
So happy you found your way here Lisa. I love Ree! Hope you enjoyed the rice. 🙂
Natalie says
I have made this recipe twice now. I made it for Shabbat a few weeks ago, and it was so good I couldn’t help but make it the next Friday! I look forward to the leftovers. This recipe is a keeper, and you got me to eat lima beans! 🙂
Tori Avey says
Just saw this comment Natalie, so happy you liked the recipe! I like scrambling some of the leftover rice with eggs for breakfast the next morning. Sounds kind of weird, but it’s delish!
Dana says
Looks really yummy and can’t wait to try this dish. Not crazy about lima beans – thinking of using edamame or canned chickpeas…
Natalie says
I always hated lima beans growing up, but I feel like this recipe does them justice! Try it once with the limas and see what you think 🙂
Tracy P. says
Thanks so much for your recipe + pictures. This is one of my favorite persian rice dishes. I like it best w/ peas. In Great Neck I’ve had it prepared that way. In Los Angeles + Beverly Hills The cooked it This way w/ the Lima Beans. I’m a Baby Nurse and many of my Clients + friends are Persian. I love almost all of the dished the have prepared. I also like the sweet rice dish w/ carrots, raisins , + cinnamon.
Mishmish says
My mother in-law was Iranian this with her kabab was my favorite. Works and taste best with basmati rice
Kim Bee says
Tori this is unique to me. I don’t see much of this type of food where I live. I must give this one a try. I have never tried that towel trick before. Wish me luck with it. I tend to be accident prone.
Susan Trear says
Best to use a towel large enough for the loose ends to fold up on each other on top of the lid. That is least risky way. Works fine!
Eftychia says
I like very much the rice recipe but I hate the dill, so I think I will use a different herb when I make this one… 🙂
sippitysup says
Okay now that I owe you a meal (thanks for the Fab lunch with Mr. Batali) we should go to a place I know in Hollywood that serves Baghali Polo. GREG
Tori Avey says
The Batali lunch was so much fun Greg! What a treat. Yes, I’m always game for a Persian meal… sign me up! 🙂
Barbara says
My question is as Kent’s…. Curious if this would work with brown rice. Can’t think of why it wouldnt… Looks delish!
Tori Avey says
Hi Barbara, hi Kent… this is a great question. I asked one of my Persian friends, who advised against it– she said that the texture of white long grain basmati rice is closest to traditional Persian rice. Brown rice takes longer to cook, and will likely not turn out as fluffy as white basmati. It also doesn’t have the lovely perfume of white basmati, which means the dish will be lacking the proper aroma. That said, if you are absolutely set on using brown rice, long grain brown basmati rice can be used (don’t use short grain or American-style rice– long grain basmati is important). I am passing along her tips, so keep in mind that I haven’t tried this myself and can’t make any promises. You’ll need to presoak it for the full amount of time, and parboil the rice till it’s an al dente texture– soft but firm, and not at all crunchy. The parboil will take longer than with white rice, and likely will need a little more water to achieve the desired texture. Once the rice reaches that al dente stage, you can proceed with the recipe as written. Again, I make no promises, so if you’re able to try it please report back to us and let us know how it worked for you!
kent says
Will this work with brown rice?
Jon S. says
Yes, only if it is an aged, basmati, long grain brown rice.
Brian says
it looks crispilly interesting… good to know in these times that something good.. even if volcano shaped, can come out of persia
Ilke says
I love tadhig, had a chance to eat Persian rice a lot with friends from Iran who are good cooks. We make the similar rice with lima beans and dill but not saffron. But I think the color just makes it prettier and unexpected. Beautiful.
Have a great weekend.!
Tori Avey says
You too Ilke! 🙂
Samantha @ Ferraro Kitchen says
This is absolutely gorgeous! And soo interesting! Your presentations are amazing…I love #1 and I am sure #2 took a lot of careful movements! What would you suggest to have this with? Brisket? Chicken? I am “pinning” this too! LOVE it! 🙂
Ann says
This is terrific, Tori! I had no idea there were so many names and styles for making rice! I bet this has an amazing flavor…thanks for the recipe AND the lesson!
Jacqueline says
This looks delicious. The latins also have a word for the sticky rice at the bottom of the pot and in their culture it is also the favorite portion. They call it Pegao. I eat kosher and was delighted to find you blog.
ahamirat.k says
The way you guys are making a huge fuss about rice burned at the bottom of pot u call it -tadig- it is very primitive , and backwarded. First of all Pilafe is a Greek term left behind by the soldiers of Alexander the Great after trampling the Persia. But what is it, Just let the brewing rice 10 more minutes over the heat, there you gonna have roasted rice
Tori Avey says
Ahamirat, what you are suggesting will make toasted (tough) rice, but not a crispy golden tahdig like you see in this recipe.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
This is such a yummy sounding recipe! Great idea. Yum!