چلو گوشت بدون آب با پیاز فراوان

What is “chelo” in Persian food?

This recipe makes چلو گوشت, slow-cooked meat over rice, with a trick: no added water, just a mountain of onion. «این چلو گوشت بدون اضافه کردن ذره‌ای آب درست شده» (“this chelo gusht is made without adding a drop of water”). چلو (chelo) is plain steamed Persian rice, the canvas of the national table.

Learn the pair: چلو is plain rice served beside a stew or kebab (چلوکباب), while پلو (polo) is rice cooked together with other things, like باقالی پلو (rice with dill and fava beans). Master چلو and its crispy bottom, تهدیگ (tahdig), and you’ve got the heart of Persian cooking.