Lubia Polo

Ingredients:
3 cups Basmati rice
2 lbs stew meat, tri-tip, rump roast (can substitute lamb meat)
2 large onions
1 clove garlic (optional, not a traditional ingredient)
4 tbsp vegetable oil
˝ cup clarified butter (ghee) (cook butter over low heat until separates—improves taste)
1 ˝ lbs fresh green beans
12oz tomato sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste
Beef Better Than Boullion if desired
Salt/pepper to taste
1/2 tsp Turmeric
A tiny bit of red chili pepper flakes if you like the spark it adds
2 tsp saffron, divided (or less depending on taste and budget)

Directions:
Rice:
1. Bring large pot of water and 2 TBS salt to boil
2. Wash 3 cups Basmati rice. 3. Add rice to boiling water
4. Boil 6 minutes or until almost tender (inside should be al dente)
5. Drain then rinse in cool water and set aside to cool.

Sauce:
1. Chop both onions.
2. Cut meat into pinky sized small oblong cubes.
3. Cut green beans into 1” length and sauté in butter, then set aside.
4. Saute one large onion and garlic in large pot until golden brown (the color is very important because the flavor changes and is more delicious). Remove and set aside.
5. Saute the other large onion in same pan until golden brown.
6. Add meat to the fried onions in the large pot. Season with salt (be careful due to bullion and tomato sauce), pepper, turmeric, and chili flakes. Saute until the meat is brown.
7. Add ˝ cup water and boullion if desired (watch salt!).
8. Cook until meat starts to get tender then add tomato sauce and tomato paste.
9. Add 1 tsp. ground saffron powder that has 1 tbsp boiling water added to it to release flavor.
10. Cook until meat very tender and sauce reduces and becomes thick.
11. Spray a lot of Pam or oil into the bottom of a large pot and then put a layer of rice, layer of sauce mixture, layer of beans, etc. Top off with white rice.
12. Add melted butter combined with 1 tsp powdered saffron/water and pour over top. Take a damp towel and put it over the pot, then cover with lid (be careful that no part of towel touches the heating element). This will steam the rice. Cook over low heat for 1 ˝ hours. I have burned this more than once - be very careful to watch the heat! It can also be baked in a large baking dish in the oven at 300 degrees if you wish.
~*~ From Mom ~*~