Shola, an Afghan Sticky Rice

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Shola, your new favorite Sticky Rice!

SHOLA JUST HIT A MILLION VIEWS ON INSTAGRAM!!! CHECK IT OUT HERE!!

This simple one pot recipe requires minimal prep and is perfect for any occasion. It combines the perfect blend of spices, herbs and liquid before popping it into the oven and letting the rice soak up all that flavor. All topped with a garlicky yogurt mix (my favorite part 🤤).

a plate of Afghan sticky rice called Shola

Let’s Make an Amazing Sticky Rice Dish Called Shola! Just The Way Mom Makes It!

If you’re looking for a comfort dish, it doesn’t get any better than this. Shola, an Afghan Sticky Rice, fully brings that comfort to life. The tradition surrounding it, the essence, the aroma, it’s such a cherished recipe and a perfect base for any Shola type recipe. This recipe is just that, a base, and ONLY Shola. You can add any type of meat to it, or you can add a different type of yogurt like Qurooti, but then it would be a different dish entirely. Kichiri Quroot, is essentially the same but with Quroot and Meat added. But again, that would be an entirely different dish.

We wanted to make sure you knew how to make a perfect Shola before you made any alterations to it. And you must use high-quality authentic ingredients such as what Ariana Sweets provides. They truly bring this dish to another level and really bring that taste of home to you!

You might have to adjust your oven time as mung beans can vary on cooking until it becomes soft enough and edible to eat.

Tips on Making The Best Shola

Rinse Calrose Rice and Mung Beans in Hot Water: Rinse them both completely with hot water and then drain it. The hot water will help start the mung beans process and allow a more tender mung beans. Rinsing also will clean off the Calrose Rice. Don’t worry about using cold water for that because this is a one-pot dish and eventually will all cook together.

Boil Mung Beans for 15-20 Minutes: If you have full un-split mung beans, boiling the for 15-20 minutes prior to adding them into the pot will ensure they cook properly during the baking process. You can still make the shola without this step but it is possible that the baking part will take longer if the mung beans are not fully cooked. Remember, uncooked mung beans can cause stomach issues.

High-Quality Ingredients: If you want the authenticity of Afghan Cuisine, you know you have to use high-quality ingredients such as Ariana Sweets Calrose Rice, as well as beef broth and dried herbs. This will make a significant difference in the quality of your Shola.

Adjust the Broth/Water as Needed: Add more water/beef broth if you feel necessary. This will depend on what pot you end up using to cook your Shola. Mung Beans can take a bit longer to soften and tenderize so you might need to add more liquids to adjust to those cooking levels. You don’t want to eat uncooked mung beans, it can give you a bad stomach ache. So just try one here and there and make sure it’s fully ready.

The Paper Towel Trick: At the end, you’ll want to remove the Shola out of the oven, stir it up and then add a paper towel over it. This allows the rice to become a bit more fluffier and remove excess moisture.

The Yogurt Mix: Prepare a yogurt with garlic and dried mint, and top it off with hot oil to give it that nice sizzle. You can, of course, switch this with the classic Quroot base that everyone loves, but this is a nice starting point for anyone who has never had Quroot or does not prefer it.

Garnishes: As always, garnishing is an important part of our recipes. Add some fresh Cilantro, Onions, Peppers, etc to the top of the Shola and you will get that beautiful visual appeal as well as even more delicious flavors.

Follow these tips and you too will have the perfect Shola!

Ingredients

4 cups Calrose White Rice
1 cup Mung Beans
5 cups of Water
4 cups Beef Broth
1 cup Tomato Sauce
3/4 cup Oil
1 can Chickpeas
3/4 cup Cilantro (chopped)
2 tbsp Salt & Pepper
1 tbsp No Salt Seasoning Mix
1 tbsp Dill

Yogurt Mix

Directions

To make this delicious Sticky Rice dish, begin by rinsing your rice and mung beans thoroughly.

Calrose rice from Ariana Sweets for Shola

FOR BEST RESULTS

Boil Mung Beans for 15-20 Minutes

Add them to a large Dutch oven, then add water, beef broth, tomato sauce, oil, chickpeas, seasonings, and cilantro.

adding water to the Calrose rice and mung beans

adding beef broth to the Calrose rice and mung beans

Mix together and bake covered for 1 hour at 380 degrees or until the Mung Beans are fully cooked/soft.

Add more liquid as needed. Mix together and cover with a paper towel, place the lid back on and bake for an additional 10-20 minutes.

cover it and pop it into the oven at 380 degrees on the lowest rack

Meanwhile, prepare your garlicky yogurt.

Add minced garlic to your Greek yogurt, top with dried mint, and pour hot oil on top.

a garlicky yogurt mix with dried mint over it

STORAGE RECOMMENDATIONS

REFRIGERATION

Shola can be stored in airtight containers for 2-3 days after being made. Be sure to consume within those 2-3 days.

USE AIRTIGHT CONTAINERS

We highly recommend using airtight containers such as Skroam’s 10 Pack Glass Containers because glass is best!

FREEZING

Shola can be frozen which will allow for longer storage. Cool completely first and then place into a freezer safe container. Use within 2 months for the best possible taste but keep in mind this will affect texture.

REHEATING

Use a microwave or the stovetop to reheat. For the stovetop, just let it heat at medium to low until it’s hot enough to eat!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I use a different type of rice for Shola?

We recommend Calrose Rice as that is usually what is used for an Afghan Sticky Rice, however, we have found success when using a standard Extra Long Grain Rice. Don’t use Basmati rice here because it will NOT stick the same way. You will be disappointed. Trust us, we tried :p

Is it necessary to soak the rice and mung beans prior to cooking?

No it is not because this is all one-pot and will all cook in the over. Rinse them thoroughly with hot water however, as this will help clean and start the process for the mung beans.

Can Shola be vegetarian or vegan? If so, how do you do it?

Yes you can adapt this recipe to be vegetarian or vegan. Replace the beef broth with a vegetable broth. Use a dairy-free alternative for the yogurt mix. Unfortunately, we can’t tell you how this will taste as we have not tried this but I imagine it can’t be THAT much different.

How long should I leave Shola in the oven to cook?

This will vary depending on your oven. But typically the Shola takes an hour to an hour and a half to cook. This is because the Mung Beans can definitely take longer. We provide a nice base for timeframe, but please make sure that the Mung Beans are fully cooked before you start eating it. Test them out as you cook.

Can I refrigerate and freeze leftover Shola?

Shola can be stored in airtight containers for 2-3 days after being made. Be sure to consume within those 2-3 days. Shola can be frozen which will allow for longer storage. Cool completely first and then place into a freezer safe container. Use within 2 months for the best possible taste but keep in mind this will affect texture.

Can I add or remove any seasonings to adjust to my preference?

Absolutely! Take out whatever you like, and certainly add whatever you prefer. It’s all preference. Taste as you add so you don’t overdo it.

Can I serve Shola with additional toppings or accompaniments?

Yes, you can customize Shola with additional toppings or accompaniments according to your preferences. Some popular options include chopped nuts, raisins, sliced almonds, or fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley. Serve alongside a side salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.

Want More Great Recipes like this? Here are some of our Go-To Recipes to pair with this Shola or just eat by itself

Beef Korma

Challow, an Afghan White Rice

Kabuli Palaw, Afghan Brown Rice

Cilantro Green Chutney

Salata – Afghan Salad

LOVE OUR SHOLA? GIVE US FEEDBACK

If you make our Shola, please leave a comment and/or rate the recipe! We’d love to hear your feedback. Also, don’t forget to tag us on Instagram! We love seeing our family’s favorite recipes being enjoyed by others!