Rinse the lentils several times in cold water then pour them into a saucepan. Add a cup of water to the and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low then add 1 teaspoon of salt, cover and cook for about 20 minutes or until the lentils are tender and there is little liquid left in the pan. Reserve the cooked lentils for later.
Rinse the rice in cold water, soak it in 3-4 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of salt. Then cook your rinsed rice in boiling water for about ten minutes. The rice should be firm in the center and soft on the outside. Once your rice is cooked, drain it and rinse it with cold water.
Sauté the chopped onions in 2 tbsp of oil over medium heat until the onions begin to soften, add the turmeric, raisins, dates, a pinch of cinnamon and stir. Lightly sauté for a few minutes then set aside.
Add a few tablespoons of vegetable oil to a large saucepan. With a spatula, place a layer of cooked rice (or thin slices of potato) in the bottom of the pan, then place a layer of cooked lentils, then another layer of rice. Repeat the process until you run out of rice and lentils. Spread the saffron diluted in water over your layers of Adas Polo.
Cover the pot and cook for 10 minutes over medium-high heat until the rice is smoking. Lower the heat to medium-low and steam the rice for another 45-50 minutes.
Invert the pan onto a large plate and admire your Tahdig Adas Polo!
Your magnificent Tahdig Adas polo shirt is ready! Serve it on a large plate garnished with fried onions, raisins and dates. You can also serve it with mast-o-khiar and Shirazi salad.
Sabzi Polo Semnani: a Tasty Dish from Central Persia
