PILAU
Published Feb 21, 2019
Updated Apr 06, 2021
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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! I have had so much on my plate that coming on here to type a post has been hard. But today I am determined to at least share a recipe with you guys because 1. I really enjoy cooking and inspiring others to do same and 2. it’s Black History month! And I won’t let this month past without sharing some delicious 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.
I am 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 I will solve this puzzle.
Enjoy, friends!
Pilau
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
Instructions
- 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).
- Add the garlic and ginger to the onions and stir for about 1 minute so the spices bloom.
- 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 I 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).
- 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,
- 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.
- Let the rice rest for about 4 minutes then fluff with a fork. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi Precious! Tried your recipe today and my whole family loved. Just wanted to let you know you have 2 onions listed twice in recipe list and although you have a bay leaf in instructions it’s not on the ingredients list that I see. Great recipe! Definite make again.
Thank you so much for pointing this out, Lisa. I truly appreciate you.
Hi Precious. Thank you for making people aware that there is African food beyond jollof.
However as a Kenyan woman over 50 who has been cooking pilau etc for decades and learnt from grand mothers. Pilau is never cooked with long grain rice or turmeric. Looking at the pictures it is the wrong consistency and colour.No whole bay leaf either. Aged basmati or pishori rice is best.Kachumbari is plain to refresh after rich flavours. Rub salt into the onion then rinse to avoid onion taste in mouth. Avocado is served sliced on side of plate.
I keep my recipes from online organized in a folder. If I try a recipe, I’ll type a comment like “good” or “great” next to its title. Otherwise, I delete it.
I made this a while ago and it was in my computer recipe file with a note, “try again”. I don’t remember why. Probably the meat was too chewy and not fault of recipe.
So, I finally tried again last night. Perfection. Going for seconds is a high compliment from my son. For this recipe, he went for thirds. So, now I’m changing the comment from “try again” to “Great!”
Thank you.