Loobia polo

Method

Soak the dried kidney beans overnight, then drain and boil in fresh water for 45 minutes until tender; set aside. Finely dice the onions and fry gently in oil until golden, then add tomato paste, turmeric and cumin, cooking for 2 minutes. Add the cooked beans to the spiced onion mixture with 200ml water, salt and pepper, then simmer for 15 minutes to combine flavours. Meanwhile, boil the basmati rice in salted water for 8 minutes, then drain when just tender. Layer half the rice in a heavy-bottomed pot, then add the bean mixture as a middle layer, and top with the remaining rice. Dot with butter, cover with foil and a tight-fitting lid, then cook on high heat for 2 minutes until steam forms, then reduce to low heat for 30 minutes to create a crispy tahdig base. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.