This East African Pilau Rice is one of the most flavorful rice I have ever made. Rice cooked in browned beef and onion with pilau masala spice mix. Imagine all this goodness inside one pot; it would be a treat to your tastebuds.
What Is Pilau Rice?
This is an East African (Kenya and Tanzania) delicacy made with meat, browned onion, and rice with flavorful spices (cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom and cumin). The combination of these spices is called Pilau Masala.
The Asian Pilau rice (usually called Pilaf) is very different from the African version because of its colour. The African Pilau Rice has a brown colour derived from the browning of the beef, onion and the Pilau Masala Spice Mix, while the Asian Pilau has a yellow colour because of the turmeric and saffron.
This aromatic rice preparation shares the one-pot cooking method used in Cameroonian Jollof rice but with a different spice profile. While pilau rice is milder than some of its West African counterparts, it's no less flavorful than the traditional native jollof rice (Iwuk Edesi) from Nigeria and my favorite Thieboudienne. For those who enjoy rice dishes with bold flavors and varied textures, our cajun-inspired dirty rice recipe offers a delicious alternative from Louisiana cuisine.
Recipe Ingredients and Variations.
- Pilau Masala Spice: This combines cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom and cumin. You can also buy the ready-made spice mix from the store.
- Beef: Make sure you cut into chunks and brown them in oil. You can also use chicken, goat or lamb. NOTE: If your beef is hard, boil it till tender before browning it in oil. My beef is soft, so it cooks fast.
- Seasonings: Stock cube and salt. If you do not want to use stock cubes, you can skip it and add the salt.
- Onion: Red or white onion will work. The onion must be browned in oil for fragrance and colour.
- Tomatoes
- Beef stock or water
- Bay leaves
- Ginger and Garlic: For flavour and taste.
What if I have Whole Spices?
Toss the spices in a pan on medium heat until fragrant for about 2 minutes. Using a mortar or blender, ground until it's smooth.
What to serve with Pilau Rice
It's mostly served with Kachumbari, fresh tomato, and onion salad, popular in African cuisine.
You May Like These Other Recipes
- Nigerian Jollof Rice
- Fried Rice
- Coconut Rice
- One Pot Jerk Chicken with Rice and Peas
- Lamb and Saffron Rice
East African Pilau Rice
Ingredients
For the Pilau Masala Spice Mix
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon ground
- ½ teaspoon Cloves ground
- 1 tsp Cardamom ground
- 1 teaspoon Cumin ground
- 1 teaspoon Blackpepper ground
For The Rice
- 2 cups Rice wash till the water runs clear
- ½ kg Beef cut into chunks
- 2-3 Tomatoes diced
- 2 medium Onion chopped
- ½ tablespoon Ginger crushed or paste
- ½ tablespoon Garlic crushed or paste
- 1 Stock cube or any seasoning powder or bouillon
- 2 Bay leaves
- 3-4 cups Water or broth
- 1 teaspoon Salt plus pinch to season beef
- ½ cup Cooking oil
Instructions
- Season the beef with a pinch of salt.
- Add oil to a hot pot on medium heat. Brown the beef for about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Add the onion to the pot (it still contains oil) and sauté until brown.
- Bring the beef back to the pot and stir with the onion very well.
- Add the pilau masala spice, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, salt and stock cubes. Stir to combine.
- Add the washed rice, water or stock and bay leaves. Mix well, cover the pot and boil until the water is absorbed.
- Reduce the heat to love and cover again let it cook slowly till the rice is tender and fluffy.
- Allow to sit for about 5 minutes, and then serve.
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Augusta Yaakugh-Shahin says
Made this yesterday with Chicken. My husband ate and left no crumbs. (No pun intended) 😂
Bilikis says
Super delicious
Malaika Ngwa says
I don’t have to think of what to cook I just have to rush to your u-tube page and get my meal for the day. Thank you for always sharing
Thanks so much, and I am glad my recipes always help out.