Ingredients

• 4 to 6 large carrots, peeled and grated
• 1 lb ground beef
• 4 cups - white long grain rice
• 8 tbsp - cooking oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 tsp - turmeric
• 2 cups (16 oz) tomato sauce
• 4 oz water
• pepper to taste
• salt to taste

How to Make Havij Polo (Carrot Rice)

• For best results, soak the rice for a few hours in hot water and add salt before cooking.
• In a medium size pot, half-way filled with water, bring the water to a boil.
• Add the rice (and the water it was soaking in), and let it cook for a few minutes until it starts boiling.
• Occasionally pick a few rice grains with a spoon and chew on them to see if they have softened.
• When the rice is half-crunchy half-soft, take it out and drain it in a kitchen stringer.
• Run the tab water on it to wash out some of the excess salt.
• In a medium size pot, over medium heat, pour 4 tbsp of oil, add the chopped onions and stir fry until they turn a golden brown color.
• Add the meat, turmeric and pepper and continue to stir fry until the meat is brown.
• Add the tomato sauce and salt and continue to stir fry for a few more minutes.
• Add the grated carrots and stir fry for another 5-10 minutes.
• The meat sauce is done when it starts to thicken (most of the water evaporates).
• Pour the remaining cooking oil in a medium size pot, add 4 Oz of water, then loosely spread a thin layer of rice and a thin layer of meat sauce.
• Continue in this fashion until all the rice and meat sauce have been exhausted.
• With the back of a spoon, make five holes one in the center and four around it, so that the rice can breathe in the cooking process.
• Spread a little water on top and close the lid.
• Let it cook for a couple of minutes on high heat.
• When the rice starts to steam, change the setting to medium heat and let it cook for about 15 minutes.
• Then turn the heat to medium-low, sprinkle some cooking oil to stop it from drying.
• Let it cook for about another 10 minutes.