PILAU

This is Pilau: a fragrant one-pot rice meal. The rice is cooked in a fragrant broth loaded with spices. The aroma is out of this world! Pilau is a popular Kenyan dish conspicuously present at Kenyan parties! It is also popular in other East African countries. Get your spices, some long grain rice and let’s make this East African delight!

You guys, it’s been a crazy couple of weeks around here! We have had so much on our plate that coming on here to type a post has been hard. But today we are determined to at least share a recipe with you guys because 1. We really enjoy cooking and inspiring others to do same and 2. it’s Black History month! And we won’t let this month past without sharing some satisfying black cuisine like this Beef Pilau.

Pilau is an East African one-pot rice dish. The rice is made with BIG and BOLD flavors and can be made with or without beef. You can use chicken too if you like.

Pilau is to East Africa as Jollof Rice is to West Africa. Another name for Pilau is Pilaf.

To make your Pilau vegan, leave out the meat. With the quantity of spices in this rice, you won’t miss the taste meat adds. Serve your Pilau with some Kachumbari: Kenyan tomato and onion salad.

We are still trying to figure out how to be a mama of 4 with a newborn at home, a homeschooling mama, a wife plus a blogger and a YouTuber. One day we will solve this puzzle.

Enjoy, friends!

• Yield: 4 servings
• Prep: 15 minutes
• Cook: 30 minutes
• Total: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups long grain rice, 370g
• 1/2 pound beef - chopped into 1 inch pieces, 1/4 kg
• 2 large onions - chopped
• 3 garlic cloves - peeled and crushed
• Half inch ginger root - peeled and crushed
• 1 teaspoon tumeric powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• Half teaspoon coriander powder
• Half teaspoon cardamom powder
• Half teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 tbsp of butter

Method

1. Place butter in a pot on high heat to melt then add the chopped onions. Cook the onions in the butter while stirring from time to time until they are slightly brown (keep an eye on the onions so you do not burn them. It takes about 10 minutes for them to turn slightly brown as you stir from time to time).
2. Add the garlic and ginger to the onions and stir for about 1 minute so the spices bloom.
3. Add all the powdered spices and stir for about 1 minute. Add the beef then stir and let it cook until beef is brown and done. The beef will release some of its juices so we just let it cook in its own juices. However, if the liquid in your pot dries up fast then add half a cup of water and let it cook till done or just about done (it will cook further with the ice).
4. Add 3 cups of water to the pot. Wash the rice until the water runs clear (needs about 4 washes). Add to the pot. Add the salt, black pepper, bay leave and stir. Let everything come to a boil,
5. Once the pot comes to a boil, turn the heat to low and let it cook until the rice absorbs all the water. About 15 minutes. Turn off the heat.
6. Let the rice rest for about 4 minutes then fluff with a fork. Serve warm.