Albaloo Polo

By Anna Kovel  Updated on June 20, 2019

Prep Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 50 mins

Yield: 6 to 8 Serves

Ingredients

• 2 cups basmati rice
• Kosher salt
• Large pinch of saffron (about 1/4 teaspoon)
• 1 tablespoon scalding-hot water (160 to 180 degrees)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 cup Sour-Cherry Preserves, drained in a fine-mesh sieve

Directions

• Cook rice in a large pot of salted water as you would pasta, boiling until just cooked through with some bite in center, 7 to 9 minutes. Drain in a fine-mesh sieve, then rinse with cool water; drain again. In a small bowl, steep saffron in hot water until liquid is bright orange, 5 minutes.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add one-third of cooked rice, spreading it to edges of pan in an even layer. Scatter half of preserves on top of rice, then poke 4 holes through rice with the bottom of a wooden spoon. Cut 1 tablespoon butter into small pieces; place on holes. Spoon half of remaining rice on top, followed by remaining preserves; poke 4 more holes and dot each with remaining 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces. Stir saffron mixture into remaining rice; add to pot as final layer. Wrap lid with a clean kitchen towel and cover pot. Reduce heat to low and cook until rice is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Fluff with a fork and season with salt; serve.

Cook’s Notes

Use a wide saucepan with a tight-fitting lid for this dish.

Originally appeared: Martha Stewart Living, July/August 2019