Pilau

A wedding in Kenya without Pilau is a big ‘No-No’. Pilau is a traditional meal among the coastal people of Kenya and Tanzania. It is a fragrant rice dish cooked using whole organic spices, beef, chicken or mutton, and is commonly served with Kachumbari – the Kenya version of Salsa. Ingredients • 2 cup long grain basmati rice • 4 cups water • 1 onion, sliced • ½ chicken, sliced into bite-size pieces • Vegetable oil • 4 cloves, whole • 2 cinnamon sticks, whole • 5 cardamoms, whole (lightly smash for stronger smell and taste) • 9 black peppercorns, whole • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds • 1 teaspoon of each ginger and garlic, crushed • 2 peeled potatoes (optional) • Salt to taste 12 Preparation • In a cooking pot, add onions and vegetable oil and cook until the onions start to brown. • Add all whole spices and fry for 1 minute. • Add chicken and fry for 6 minutes. • Add potatoes (optional) and water and bring it to boil. • Add salt to taste • Once the water boils, add rice and simmer until the rice is a little wet, not completely dry. • Place the cooking pan in an oven, cover it and let it cook in a little water so it doesn’t become completely dry. • Serve hot with salad, gravy, chili or Kachumabri.