Persian Meatballs over Saffron Rice

Ingredients

• 500g minced beef
• 1 cup cooked basmati rice
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 15g fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 15g fresh chives, chopped
• 15g fresh coriander, chopped
• 15g fresh basil, chopped
• 1 Tbsp ground turmeric
• 2/3 cup frozen and thawed cranberries, roughly chopped
• 1 egg
• Salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• Olive oil, for frying
• Plain yoghurt, for serving
• Pomegranate rubies, for garnish
• Mint leaves, for garnish
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste
• 400g tinned chopped tomatoes
• 2 cups chicken stock
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• Generous pinch of saffron threads
• 1 cup basmati rice
• 1 3/4 cups chicken stock