In Iran it is typical to prepare this dish when it is wash day. The traditional way to make this meal is very early in the morning you make a fire in a large rock-lined pit outside the house. A large covered kettle is filled with the ingredients and placed over the coals to cook slowly all day. At the end of a day of doing laundry the food was ready with minimal preparation.
This slow cooking recipe lends itself beautifully to a slow cooker and I have also simplified by substituting cooked, canned beans for dried ones. It is served strained through a slotted spoon and scooped into pita bread but I like to spoon it over a whole grain like couscous, quinoa or rice.
