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East African Pilau is a traditional, fragrant rice meal cooked with a variety of aromatic spices that give the rice an incredible depth of flavor. Beef or chicken can be used to make it.
Pilau Rice Recipe
Pilau has a superb flavor balance. It’s a celebratory dish that’s always present at special occasions or events. It’s created with rice cooked in flavorful meat or chicken broth. Unlike the Indian pilau, the East African version is less hot and does not contain curry.
Rice is, without a doubt, one of my favorite food in the world. Not only is it my to-go dish when I need to prepare a quick meal, but it can easily be turned into an elegant dish for special occasions.
What is Pilau Rice?
Rice pilau is a fragrant one-pot dish made with caramelized beef, rice, and potatoes simmered in a hearty meat or chicken broth.
It is considered a special rice dish that is often served at weddings, during festive seasons or when an important guests arrive.
How To Make Pilau Rice
- Toast and blend the pilau masala: In a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Brown the onions by frying it in oil until it caramelizes. This should take about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the Garlic, ginger and serrano pepper.
- Add the meat stock cubes, pilau masala, cilantro, bay leaves, and salt to taste and brown the meat for about
- Stir in the tomatoes and cook till it dissolves. Then stir in the potatoes.
- Add water and bring everything to a rolling boil and leave the potatoes to cook for about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the rice then cover tightly. You can use an aluminum foil to cover it first, this will help keep the steam in. Then place the lid over it and leave to cook on a low heat for 20 minutes until the liquid has been absorbed.
- Serve hot! You can sprinkle the rice pilaf with some chopped cilantro, then fluff with a fork. Enjoy.
How to Store and Reheat Pilau Rice
The rice may be prepared in advance. Store leftover in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. You can freeze easily too. Just make sure it is completely cooled and cooled quickly to room temperature before placing it into a freezable container or bag.
You can freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat until piping hot in the microwave on high heat.
Other delicious rice recipes you might want to try:
- Coconut Fried Rice– Rice cooked in broth and coconut milk. Simply delish!
- Yellow Rice– Ready in about 30 minutes
- Jollof rice – West Africans favorite rice recipe
Below is the step-by-step recipe on how to make this easy recipe. If you make it don’t forget to leave a comment. Enjoy!
East African Pilau
Ingredients
- 1tsp cumin seeds
- 1tbsp ghee or oil
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 4 cardamom pods
- 4 cloves
- 1tbsp turmeric
- 250g basmati rice
- 2 bay leaves
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks, broken
Instructions
- Heat a large pan, which has a tight-fitting lid. Sprinkle the cumin seeds over the base and cook for 30 secs, stirring well to toast them but taking care not to burn them. Tip out of the pan into a bowl.
- Heat the ghee or oil in the pan. Add the onion and cook it over a medium heat for 5-7 mins, until it starts to soften. Crush the cumin seeds lightly with the cardamom pods. Add the cumin, cardamom, cloves and turmeric to the pan and cook for 1-2 mins.
- Rinse the rice well and add to the pan, along with 450ml boiling water, the bay leaves and cinnamon sticks and stir briefly just to mix. Bring the mixture to the boil, cover the pan and cook over a low heat for 12-15 mins, until the water is absorbed. Leave the rice in the pan but off the heat for a few mins before serving.
