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The history of baghali polo dish goes back to the Safavid era, and it was considered one of the main and popular dishes, which The Cookery Magazine amazingly explain the whole history and details.
The interesting point is that the Persian rice with fava beans could be on the tables of the Safavid kings and nobles.
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Today, it is still one of the most attractive dishes among Iranians.
There is no doubt that Baghali Polo is tasty and delicious, but chicken and mutton are the dishes that are served next to it to give it a special and unique taste.
Baghali Polo is one of the most famous Iranian polo types, which has a special place in their cooking system and culinary.
The main ingredients of Bagalapelo are rice (usually long-grained and fragrant Iranian rice), beans, and fresh or dry dill.
Like many Iranian kinds of rice, the soaked rice is boiled in a large pot, and after a few minutes before draining it, they add beans and dill to the rice pot, then pour it into the colander and drain it.
Then the cooked rice is returned to the pot with plenty of water and oil (butter) and boiled.
After the rice is cooked, they put it in a dish and decorate the rice dish with some rice dipped in saffron and cinnamon.
Cooking Baghali Polo in the Safavid and Qajar periods was slightly different from its current cooking;
For example, in the treatise “Madda-tal-Hayat” written by the court cook of Shah Abbas Safavi, “Baghali Polo” is prepared from rice, dill, fresh broad beans, peeled chickpeas, along with well-cooked lamb meat.
Persian rice with fava beans is a noble and ceremonial food. It does not belong to a specific region in Iran.
Almost people in different regions of Iran cook it on various occasions, including weddings, circumcisions, Chaharshanbesuri, and Nowruz, especially on Sizdah Bedar.
Today, in big cities, Baghali polo is people’s daily food (especially in the season of fresh beans).
In most Iranian restaurants, Persian rice with fava beans is one of the main dishes, which is very popular after all kinds of Iranian kebabs.
In some regions of Iran, particular vegetables (coriander, dill, parsley, leeks or chives, and fresh garlic) are used in its ingredients.
The unique combination of rice and vegetables in Persian rice with fava beans and its combination with various types of meat fully shows the taste and art of Iranian cooking.
Therefore, some anthropologists, who study the phenomenon of food as a cultural element, have pointed to Iranian polos or rice, especially baghali polo, and have praised the Iranians’ ability to taste and make food nutritious.
The recipe for cooking Persian rice with fava beans from Iran has also made its way to Arab countries.
“Baghala” is more literary and grammatical. But “baghali” is more common.
Baghala polo, or in daily expression, Persian rice with fava beans, is one of the types of Iranian rice, usually used in celebrations, parties, and showing-offs.
Baghali polo with meat is better with veal so that the pieces of meat do not lose their shape; it a well-known as Baghali Polo Ba Mahiche, but they also eat it with chicken, mutton, or lamb.
This food, with the specifications it is prepared, is unique to Iran.
Perhaps this is why you generally see “baghali Polo” in ordinary restaurants and “Baghala Polo” in more luxurious restaurants.
The interesting thing about Persian rice with fava beans is that it is a wedding food, and it is not like the Zereshk polo with chicken or kebab that they put in front of us when we are mourning and leaving the funeral hall.
The attractive contrast of the green color of the rice with the saffron portion on it is such that it looks happy and pleasant, and perhaps for this reason, it is the decoration of wedding tables.
Another attractive feature of Baghali Polo is that it cannot be cooked in all seasons.
There is a specific season for Baghali Polo, and basically, the peak of its pleasure is when fresh beans are placed between the rice and meat.
It may be possible to keep beans in the freezer for a while, but it will fall off and won’t be worth it as soon as it turns yellow.
Ingredients for making Baghali Polo Recipe | Persian rice with fava beans:
For 4 people:
| Iranian rice | 3 cups |
| Mutton thigh or chicken thigh | 4 pcs |
| Cleaned beans | 1 cup |
| Dried dill or chopped fresh dill | Ā½ to 1 cup |
| Sliced or diced onion | 1 large piece |
| Saffron and turmeric | Ā½ teaspoon |
| Butter | 25 grams |
| Margarine (vegetable oil) | 2 tablespoons |
| Warm water | 1 Cup |
| Tomato paste | Ā½ tablespoon |
Recipes for making Persian rice with fava beans:
The first step in making Persian rice with fava beans:
Pour one tablespoon of vegetable oil into the pot and fry the onion. Add turmeric to the onions and then fry the meat with onions.
When it is slightly fried, add hot water and let the meat cook.
The second step in making Baghali Polo:
You must soak the rice in advance, put it in the hot water in the pot on the heat, and wait until the water boils.
Of course, you can add salt to the water while soaking the rice or put unsalted rice in the pot and then add a little salt to it. When the rice is boiling, add the beans to the rice.
The fourth step:
Pour the mixture of rice and cooked soft beans into a colander, and then pour a little oil into the pot and add any other ingredients you like.
Like lavash bread, rolled potatoes, or sesame potatoes, put them in the pot and then put a layer of rice and a layer of dill.
The fifth step:
Continue this step until all the ingredients are finished, and then put the lid on the pot and put it on the heat until steam builds up in the pot and then reduce the heat and mix a little hot water with a bit of oil if you like and put it on the surface of the rice and leave it with the lid closed until the rice is cooked.
The sixth step:
Mix the melted butter with saffron and tomato paste for the meat sauce in a pan, and then put the cooked meat in the sauce; Put the rice in a bowl and place the meats on the rice. enjoy your meal.
Conclusion:
Thank you again for being with us with an excellent, delicious, authentic Iranian recipe. Share your experiences with us, and if you have any tips to improve the food recipe, be sure to comment; thank you.
And finally, I would like to thank those who took the time to read this article about Baghali Polo. It is hoped that among the delicious foods of different societies, Iranian food is gaining more and more fans every day.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Baghali in Farsi?
Baghali is fava beans.
