Shplo

Description
Yes, you read it correctly, this is shplo. No festive Bukharan meal is complete without Shplo. This marvelous rice dish, which generally contains onion, pieces of lamb and/or chicken, carrot slices, and raisins, is one of the most popular Bukharan dishes.

Ingredients

 * 3 cups good rice, well rinsed,and soaked in cold water
 * 3 large chopped onions
 * 5 peeled carrots, cut into thin slices
 * 2 lbs lamb, cut into cubes of about 1 inch
 * 2 teaspoons ground cumin
 * 1 cup cooked garbanzo beans
 * ⅓ cup black raisins
 * salt
 * fresh ground black pepper
 * ½ cup oil ("or" melted lamb fat)

Directions

 * 1) In a large pot, try the meat until well-browned on all sides.
 * 2) Add onion and continue to fry another 5 minutes.
 * 3) Add ½ cup water, cover, and cook on small flame about half an hour.
 * 4) Remove from pot.
 * 5) Place half the carrot slices in pot.
 * 6) Add meat mixture (with liquid), salt, and pepper.
 * 7) Add remaining carrot, chickpeas, and raisins in that order.
 * 8) Sprinkle on the cumin, and place the strained rice on top.
 * 9) Cover with water and bring to a boil.
 * 10) Cover well and cook on a low flame for 45 minutes.
 * 11) Place on large tray in the reverse order as the pot: first the rice, etc.
 * 12) When available scatter pomegranate seeds on rice.