Estamboli Polo Recipe (Persian Mixed Tomato Rice)

Estamboli Polo is an easy Persian food that everyone loves it. The recipe for this mixed rice is straightforward, and you can cook it very fast. One of its advantages is that you can make it a vegetarian food. Also, many Iranians make it with meat, but you can omit it, and it will be so delicious. In Persian cuisine, there are many side dishes like salad Shirazi, Sir Torshi, and Mast-o-khiar. Estamboli Polo will be fantastic with these side dishes. Follow me for making our today’s delicious one-pot food.

You can find more mixed rice recipes on Cooking County like Lubia Polo.

Estamboli Polo ingredients

Estamboli polo has many different types. You can cook them and find your favorite version. First, I want to introduce you its types. Then we will make one of them.

Types of Estamboli

• You can cook Estamboli Polo with ground beef, and it is mixed with rice.
• It is possible to use beef parts and cook them individually. Then we will serve it with mixed rice.
• Also, you can omit the meat, and it is suitable for vegetarians.

We want to cook it with minced beef. Thus, we need these ingredients for its recipe.

• Rice, 2.5 cups
• Ground beef, 300 gr
• Onion, two medium-sized
• Potato, two medium-sized
• Tomato, three medium-sized
• Tomato paste, two tablespoons
• Curry, one teaspoon
• Turmeric, one teaspoon
• Salt, 2.5 tablespoons
• Black peppers, one teaspoon

Estamboli Polo recipe

For the preparation of Estamboli Polo or beef tomato rice, follow these instructions:

1. First, wash 2.5 cups of rice. Add 1 tbsp of salt to the water and let it soak.
2. Chop two medium-sized onions into small pieces.
3. Saute them with five tablespoons of oil in a pot (the pot you want to make your rice in that has a lid).
4. When the onion turns light brown, add 300 gr ground beef.
5. Then saute them with onion till making the meat brown.
6. Add 1 tsp curry, 1.5 tbsp salt, 1 tsp turmeric, and 1 tsp black pepper to the beef and mix them all.
7. Peel and chop two medium-sized potatoes into small cubes. Then add them to the beef mixture. Heat them for 5 minutes.
8. Chop and nourish three tomatoes in the food processor.
9. Add pureed tomato with 2 tbsp tomato paste to the pot. Mix and heat them till boiling.
10. Drain the water of rice and add soaked rice to the pot.
11. Pour water into the pot until 3 cm or 1 inch above the rice.
12. Heat it till the water is almost finished and there are some holes in the rice.
13. Cover the pan with a paper towel and a lid. Let it steam for 30 minutes on low heat.
14. Our delicious Estamboli Polo is ready! Enjoy it!

How to serve?

Estamboli Polo would be great with yogurt, salad Shirazi, or various pickles. You can store the leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days. Also, pour a little water into it and reheat it on the stove.

You can also fry the potato separately and then serve it with Estamboli Polo.