Rice With Lentils And Dates

Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 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

Recipe

• 1 wash and drain rice.
• 2 heat 2 t butter and fry the onion till golden; add the meat and sauté 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.
• 3 boil the lentils in water for about 20 minutes till done, adding salt when they begin to soften, drain.
• 4 now boil the rice in a pan for 10 minutes till not quite tender and still a little underdone. drain the rice.
• 5 melt 2 t butter in bottom of pan, then stir in 2 t of the saffron water and about a third of the rice.
• 6 spread half the meat on top, then sprinkle on half the lentils, raisins, dates and almonds if using.
• 7 cover with a layer of rice and remaining meat, lentils, raisins and dates and finish with the rice that is left.
• 8 melt the remaining butter, stir in the remaining saffron water and pour all over. cook covered on very low heat for 20-30 minutes.