This beef pilau rice is a mouth-watering rice dish cooked in a broth, seasoned with oriental spices like cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and cloves to mention but a few. Depending on the Pilau recipe, it may contain fish, chicken, vegetables, and even dried fruits like raisins.
Course Main Course
Cuisine African, Indian
Keyword Beef Pilau Rice, pilau
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 50 minutesminutes
Total Time 1 hourhour
Servings 5People
Author Jayne Rain
Ingredients
1/2cupghee ( approx. 120 ml)
500gBasmati rice
500gBeef(washed and cut into bite-size pieces
3mediumOnions(diced)
1tspGarlic-Ginger Paste
2mediumripe tomatoes (diced)
2Seasoning cubes
1tspSea salt
2Bay leaves
1tbsp Pilau masala
5mediumPotatoes (peeled and diced)
1 cupWater (for cooking beef)
2cupsBeef Broth
1handful Coriander leaves
1/2 tsp Chili powder
1tspCoriander powder
Pilau Masala Spice Mixture
1tspCumin Seeds
6podsCardamom
1/2tspBlack peppercorns
1stickCinnamon
6Cloves
2Star anise
Instructions
Making Pilau Masala.
Combine the Pilau Masala Spice Mixture and Pan roast for a few seconds on medium heat to intensify the flavors and then grind in a mortar or a spice grinder. Store in an air-tight container.
Making the Pilau Rice
In a large saucepan, heat cooking oil OR gheeon medium heat, add the potatoes and brown lightly. Drain them from theoil and set aside. (THIS STEP IS OPTIONAL)
In the same pot, add the onions and fry till golden brown. The browner your onions, the darker the pilau rice will be.
To that, add garlic-ginger paste and sauté fora few seconds.
Add the beef and fry till brown for about 10minutes. Stir regularly.
Proceed to add the chopped tomatoes, salt, Pilau masala, coriander powder, chili powder, and seasoning cube and sauté once more.
Cover the pot and allow the tomatoes to cook for about 5 - 6 minutes or until fully cooked. Don't forget to stir occasionally.
Now, add 1 cup of water, cover the pot and let the meat simmer for 15 minutes on medium heat until almost all the liquid has evaporated.
After that, add the potatoes (browned OR not browned), washed rice and hot water OR hot beef broth. Stir to mix all the ingredients. Cover the pot and then steam the rice for about 35 to 40 minutes.
After 40 minutes, turn off the heat and allow the rice to rest for about 15 minutes with a covered lid. (This step will ensure that all the moisture is absorbed into the rice).
Finally, add the finely chopped coriander leaves and gently fluff the beef pilau rice from bottom to top.