Method:

1. Combine the marinade ingredients with the sliced skirt steak.
2. Shallow fry half the onions until golden and a little crisp, drain and keep aside.
3. Soak the milk with the saffron and set aside.
4. In a heavy bottom saucepan heat the oil used to cook the onions and add the crushed cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and the bay leaf, then add the onion and fry until slightly golden.
5. Add the beef skirt and stir for 10 minutes over a medium to high heat. Mix in the tomato paste and the marinade and simmer on a low heat for 30 – 40 minutes.
6. Wash and drain the rice then boil the rice until 2/3 cooked. Drain and arrange it on top of the sauce, alternating layers with the fried onion and chopped mint and coriander.
7. Pour the saffron milk over the top and cover with a tight fitting lid in a medium oven 170 degrees for 20 minutes