HERE'S A RECIPE FOR PILAU. TRY IT OUT

PILAU 

Serves 4 

Pilau is a specialty along the Swahili Coast in which Rice is flavored with spices and cooked in a 

well seasoned broth of Meat, Poultry or Fish. It is also a festive Dish which never misses at every 

special occasion. 

Prep Time: 25 min 

Cook Time: 50 min 

Total Time: 1 hr 15 min 

Ingredients 

1. 1/2 kg Basmati rice, washed (for better results I highly recommend Basmati rice) 

2. 1/2 kg potatoes - peeled, washed and coarsely chopped 

3. 1/2 kg beef, chicken or fish filet - cubed 

4. 1 small cup sunflower oil (or any other liquid oil)

5. 4 cups of hot water or broth 

6. 1 onion, chopped 

7. 5 cloves of Garlic, crushed 

8. 1 fresh Ginger, crushed 

9. 2 fresh Tomatoes (optional), sliced 

10. 2-3 teaspoon Pilau spices 

11. 2 teaspoon salt 

Instructions 

1. Boil beef or chicken with ginger for 10 minutes. Add potatoes and let them boil for 5 

minutes then set aside (separate the cooked ingredients from the broth so you can use it 

later) 

2. Heat oil and fry onions till light brown, add garlic and Pilau spices and on a low heat fry 

for 1 minute 

3. Add (tomatoes) meat/chicken with potatoes and cook till tender 

4. Add rice and ensure to mix everything very well before adding your broth or hot water 

then stir 

5. Add salt to taste 

6. Now cover the pot and cook on medium heat 

7. When the Food is nearly dry, lower down the heat to very low, cover your Pilau with 

aluminium paper (please avoid newspapers or polythene papers) and place the lid on top. 

Leave to cook for 10 minutes . 

8. *Here you are, your Pilau is ready! 

Notes 

1. Serve your Pilau hot with Kachumbari and Pilipili ya Maembe 

2. A banana can also be used for garnishing 

3. *Some like to serve it with a tasty tomato sauce or beef/chicken stew on the side which is 

also very nice....