What Is Pilau Rice?
Pilau rice is traditional Indian rice that is perfect paired with a variety of classic Indian curries like healthy chicken tikka, chicken bhuna, or keema curry. Its golden yellow colour is made by turmeric, a natural food colouring agent, which dyes the rice during the cooking process.
How To Cook Pilau Rice In Uganda
Pilau rice is one of those dishes I insist on cooking with ghee. I also prefer to steam it, as the flavour of the spices infuses better with the rice. If you are cooking for a large group, you might be better off frying cold cooked basmati rice, as in the fried rice recipe.
How To Cook Pilau Rice In Uganda
Ingredients
| 370g | basmati rice |
| 3 tablespoons | milk |
| pinch | saffron threads |
| 3 tablespoons | ghee |
| 6 | green cardamom pods, lightly bruised |
| 5cm | piece of cinnamon stick or cassia bark |
| 1 teaspoon | cumin seeds |
| 1 | onion, finely chopped |
| 1 | garlic clove, smashed |
| 750ml | cold water or unsalted chicken stock |
| 2 | indian bay leaves (cassia leaves) |
| salt |
Method
- Put the uncooked rice in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Swirl the water around with your hands; it will become milky from the rice starch. Pour the water out and add fresh water and repeat until the water is almost clear. About five times should do the job. Leave the rice to soak in the last batch of fresh water for about 30 minutes, then drain.
- While the rice is soaking, heat the milk in a small pan until it begins to simmer. Take off the heat and stir in the saffron. Leave to infuse for about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt the ghee over a medium-high heat in a saucepan that has a tight-fitting lid. When good and hot and beginning give off a nutty aroma, toss in the whole spices and cook for about 30 seconds until they become fragrant. Add the onion and sizzle for about 5 minutes until it is translucent and soft.
- Add the garlic to the pan, followed by the drained rice. Stir this all up so that the rice is evenly coated in the ghee. Pour in the water or stock, add the bay leaves, then cover the pan. When the rice begins to boil and the water foams, remove from the heat and let it sit, covered and undisturbed, for 40 minutes.
- After 40 minutes, lift the lid and pour the saffron milk mixture over the top. Carefully stir through the rice using a fork or chopstick, until the grains of rice are nice and fluffy. Don’t stir too vigorously as basmati rice has a tendency to split. Season with salt to taste and transfer to a warm bowl to serve.
How do you cook pilau with only rice?
- Chop onion then put it in the sufuria with cooking and then stir them until they turn golden brown.
- Add garlic and ginger(spices)
- Add tomato paste and stir, let it cook as u stir then add black pepper and pilau masala.
- Add the rice and stir it till it is mixed well.
- Add water and stir then add salt to taste.
How do you cook plain pilau?
- Soak the rice in water for 20 min.
- Fry onions until golden brown.
- Add bell pepper, tomato,salt, pilau spices, garlic paste, tomato paste and stir.
- Add water and cover.
- When water boils add rice.
- Cook until all water drains.
- Cook it in low heat for 15min.
Is pilau rice good for you?
By itself, boiled rice isn’t fattening, but it can be if you have it with added fat, for example in the form of egg fried rice, special fried rice or pilau rice. And though brown rice is sometimes treated as the holy grail of health food, it really isn’t.
What is in pilau seasoning?
Salt, Red Bell Peppers, Ground Cinnamon (Cassia)(8%), Black Pepper, Cardamom (5%), Turmeric (5%), Bay Leaves, Onion Powder, Fennel Seed, Cloves, Natural Garlic Flavouring.