Zanzibar Pilau

Spiced rice with beef, cardamom, clove and cinnamon.

Ingredients

• 3 cups Basmati rice
• 700 g Beef
• 3 Onions
• 5 cloves Garlic
• 2 tbsp Ginger
• 6 Cardamom pods
• 6 Cloves
• 2 Cinnamon stick
• 1 tbsp Cumin seeds
• 1 tsp Black pepper
• 2 Potatoes
• ½ cup Oil
• 2 tsp Salt
• 5 cups Water

Method

1. Brown the onions — Fry the sliced onions slowly in oil until very dark brown — this gives pilau its colour, so take it further than feels comfortable.
2. Add the spices — Add the whole spices, garlic and ginger and cook 2 minutes.
3. Brown the beef — Add the beef and sear, then add water and simmer 45 minutes until tender.
4. Add potato — Add the cubed potato and cook 10 minutes.
5. Add rice — Stir in the soaked rice, check the liquid covers it by a finger, and bring to a boil.
6. Steam — Cover tightly and cook on the lowest heat for 20 minutes.
7. Pilau is ready — Rest 10 minutes, fluff, and serve with kachumbari.

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