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Keto Persian Lubia Polo Meatballs

4.5 stars, average of 28 ratings

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Lubia Polo (Loobia Polo) is a Persian mixed rice dish made with rice, ground meat (lamb or beef) and green beans. It's one of the many mixed rice dishes common in Persian cuisine. What I love the most about Lubia Polo is that each bite is packed with flavor that is simply out of this world.

For the keto version you simply need to omit the rice and replace it with cauliflower rice (one of the many food swaps you can make when you go keto). This low-carb dish is easy to make with common ingredients and spices.

You can either cook the meatballs with the green beans and then add cooked cauliflower rice to it, or you can add raw cauli-rice before the meatballs and cook for 5 to 7 minutes.

Hands-on Overall

Serving size about 225 g/ 8 oz

Allergy information for Keto Persian Lubia Polo Meatballs

✔  Gluten free
✔  Dairy free
✔  Egg free
✔  Nut free
✔  Pork free
✔  Avocado free
✔  Coconut free

Nutritional values (per serving, about 225 g/ 8 oz)

Net carbs8.4 grams
Protein24.9 grams
Fat35.4 grams
Calories466 kcal
Calories from carbs 7%, protein 22%, fat 71%
Total carbs13.3 gramsFiber4.9 gramsSugars5.5 gramsSaturated fat12.3 gramsSodium696 mg(30% RDA)Magnesium59 mg(15% RDA)Potassium822 mg(41% EMR)

Ingredients (makes 4 servings)

Meatballs:
  • 500 g ground beef (1.1 lb)
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 2 tbsp virgin avocado oil or olive oil (30 ml)
Cauliflower rice and green beans:
  • 1/2 tsp saffron
  • 1/4 cup boiling water (60 ml/ 2 fl oz)
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped (70 g/ 2.5 oz)
  • 2 clove garlic, chopped
  • 1 tbsp butter or ghee (15 ml)
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste (30 g/ 1.1 oz)
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice (15 ml)
  • 3 cups green beans (300 g/ 10.6 oz)
  • 1/2 cauliflower, riced (300 g/ 10.6 oz)
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar (15 ml)
  • sea salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cut the green beans cut into 2.5 cm/ 1" pieces. Place the cauliflower florets in a food processor and use the S blade or grating blade to process until it resembles rice.
  2. For the meatballs, in a bowl add the ground beef, some turmeric powder, salt and pepper. Mix to combine. Keto Persian Lubia Polo Meatballs
  3. Using your hands, make 20 to 25 small meatballs. Fry the meatballs in a large frying pan greased with avocado oil on medium heat. Cook for two minutes and then turn until they are cooked all around. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  4. Place the saffron in a small bowl and add the boiling water to soak. Set aside. Keto Persian Lubia Polo Meatballs
  5. Grease the same pan where you cooked the meatballs with butter. Sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until golden brown.
  6. Add more the cinnamon and curry powder, tomato paste and lemon juice. Mix well until everything is combined and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
  7. Stir in the green beans, saffron water and bring it to a low simmer. Add a dash of water if needed. Cover and cook until the green beans are crisp tender, for 7 to 10 minutes. Add back the meatballs. Keto Persian Lubia Polo Meatballs
  8. While the green beans are cooking, cook the cauliflower rice. To do that, microwave fresh cauliflower rice in a heatproof bowl, covered with cling film, for three minutes on high. If using cauli-rice from the freezer, microwave for four minutes on high, mixing the cauli-rice half way through cooking.
  9. Add the cooked cauliflower rice and vinegar. Season more to taste if needed. Keto Persian Lubia Polo Meatballs
  10. Serve immediately or let it cool down and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
    Keto Persian Lubia Polo Meatballs

Ingredient nutritional breakdown (per serving, about 225 g/ 8 oz)

Net carbsProteinFatCalories
Beef, minced (ground), raw, grass-fed
0 g21.5 g25 g318 kcal
Turmeric, spices (dried, ground)
0.3 g0.1 g0 g2 kcal
Salt, sea salt
0 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Pepper, cayenne, spices
0.1 g0 g0 g1 kcal
Avocado oil, extra virgin
0 g0 g7 g62 kcal
Saffron, dried, spices
0.1 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Water, still
0 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Onion, brown (yellow), raw
1.1 g0.2 g0 g6 kcal
Garlic, fresh
0.5 g0.1 g0 g2 kcal
Butter, unsalted, grass-fed
0 g0 g2.9 g25 kcal
Curry powder, spices
0 g0.1 g0.1 g2 kcal
Cinnamon, spices
0.2 g0 g0 g2 kcal
Tomato purée (paste, unsweetened)
0.5 g0.1 g0 g3 kcal
Lemon juice, fresh
0.2 g0 g0 g1 kcal
Wine vinegar
0 g0 g0 g1 kcal
Green beans, fresh
3.2 g1.4 g0.2 g23 kcal
Cauliflower, fresh
2.2 g1.4 g0.2 g19 kcal
Total per serving, about 225 g/ 8 oz
8.4 g24.9 g35.4 g466 kcal

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Leili Malakooti
Graphic designer and Creative Foodie

Leili Malakooti

Leili is a Graphic designer and Creative Foodie! She is passionate about recipe development, food photography and food styling.

Leili is Persian and her creations are inspired by the rich, delicious and healthy recipes from her culture and birth country, Iran. She dropped 100 lbs eating keto and has been in ketosis for almost 4 years.

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Comments (10)

Made this dish and it was very good, even better the next day when the spices had blended and deepened. It was a hit with my husband (who is not too keen on green beans or cauliflower), so that is always a plus!

Glad you enjoyed Diane!

Looks wonderful!  I bet it would also be good with ground lamb (or combo beef and lamb).   I love a drizzle of yogurt sauce (with mint and garlic) over middle eastern dishes like this....can't wait to try it.   Yummmmmmm.

I bet it would! Lamb would go really well with these flavours. Yogurt topping or raita sound like a nice addition!

I finally was able to replenish my Saffron and made this!  Oh, my gawd it was so tasty!   Even hubby was praising this meal.    The smells of my kitchen were absolutely amazing, I could not wait to dig in. Definitely a make again.

Saffron makes everything look so pretty too. Glad you both enjoyed! 😊

I love trying new and unusual recipes and now doing Keto, not loads to find.
I was a little jubilant, wasn't sure. But wow, so tasty!! Very impressed and easy to take to work and reheat for dinner.
P.S. Added mushrooms to bulk out more.
More please!!!

Thank you so much Liane, we will definitely be adding more! 😊

I just made this and it was delicious. When I first looked at it I wasn’t sure how it would appeal but it’s seriously good, even without the meatballs the Veges are so flavoursome.

Glad you enjoyed Jacqui!