Pilau (Tanzanian Spiced Beef and Rice)
In short: Tender beef and rice cooked with deeply browned onions, cumin, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom, served with a fresh tomato and onion salad. It takes about 2 h 20 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 55 min
- Total
- 2 h 20 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 580 kcal
Pilau is the rice dish of Tanzania's coast and cities, cooked for Eid, weddings and Sunday lunches. Beef is simmered until tender, onions are fried until deep brown, and the rice cooks in the meat broth with cumin, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and black pepper. The browned onions give pilau its color and sweetness, so be patient with them. Serve it with kachumbari, a fresh tomato and onion salad, to cut the richness.
Instructions
- Put the beef, water, 1 teaspoon of the salt, half the garlic and half the ginger in a pot. Bring to a boil, skim off the foam, then simmer partly covered for 50 to 60 minutes until the beef is tender.
- Strain the beef, keeping the broth. You need about 750 ml (3 cups), so top it up with water if needed.
- Heat the oil in a wide heavy pot over medium heat. Fry the onions for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring often, until deep brown and sweet. Lower the heat if they start to burn.
- Add the cumin, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and peppercorns and stir for 1 minute. Add the remaining garlic and ginger and the beef, and fry for 5 minutes.
- Add the potatoes, the 750 ml of hot broth and the remaining salt. Bring to a boil, then stir in the drained rice and level it out.
- Cook uncovered until the liquid reaches the top of the rice, about 5 minutes. Cover tightly and cook on the lowest heat for 15 minutes.
- Rest for 10 minutes off the heat, then fluff gently with a fork. Serve with kachumbari.
Tips
- No whole spices? Use 1 1/2 tablespoons of ready-made pilau masala, stirred in with the beef.
- Goat, lamb or bone-in chicken pieces also work. Chicken needs only 20 minutes of simmering before it goes into the rice.
Questions and answers
What is pilau masala?
It is a spice blend, usually cumin, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and black pepper, sometimes with coriander. It gives pilau its warm, sweet aroma.
How do I keep the rice from turning mushy?
Rinse and soak the rice, measure the broth carefully and keep the lid on tightly once it simmers. Do not stir the rice while it cooks.
What do you serve with pilau?
Kachumbari is the classic partner, along with a spoonful of chili sauce. A cool yogurt or a simple green salad also works.
How long does it take to make Pilau (Tanzanian Spiced Beef and Rice)?
About 2 h 20 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 55 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pilau (Tanzanian Spiced Beef and Rice)?
About 580 kcal per serving, with 30 g of protein, 70 g of carbohydrates and 20 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 580 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 70 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
