Kenyan pilau with beef and spices

Name: Kenyan pilau with beef and spices
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 4 portions
Ingredients: 300 g long-grain rice; 400 g beef; 2 pcs onion; 2 pcs tomatoes; 4 cloves garlic; 1 teaspoon ginger; 1 teaspoon cardamom; 4 pcs cloves; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 3 tablespoons olive oil; salt

Eduard LáskaSide DishKenyan cuisine x se líbilo

Pilau is a festive rice dish from the Kenyan coast, where African cooking meets Arab and Indian influences. The rice simmers directly in the spices and meat sauce, so every grain soaks up the aroma of cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. Along the East African coast it is served on holidays, weddings and family gatherings, when it is cooked in one large pot for the whole family. It fills the house with fragrance and tastes even better the next day.

Příprava: 20min

Vaření: 45min

CELKOVÝ ČAS: 1h 5min

Step by step process

Preparing the meat and base

1
Start the pilau by preparing an aromatic base. Heat the olive oil in a deep pot over medium-high heat. Add the whole spices, namely cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, cumin and black pepper, and toast for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
2
Add the sliced onion and fry for 8 to 10 minutes until golden. Stir in the crushed garlic and grated ginger and cook for 2 minutes. Then add the chopped tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes until they soften into a thick sauce.

Cooking the pilau

3
Add the pieces of beef to the spices and sear on all sides until browned, about 5 minutes. Pour in 500 ml of hot water or stock, season with salt, cover and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes until the meat is tender.
4
Stir the rinsed long-grain rice into the meat. Top up with hot water so the rice is covered by 2 cm, about 400 ml. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a minimum and cover. Cook for 18 to 20 minutes. It is done when the rice has absorbed all the water and is fluffy.