Easy recipe: Authentic Swahili pilau

With the weekend here and Valentine's fast approaching, what better way to practice your cooking than with this Swahili pilau recipe.

What you will need:

2 tablespoons ghee 1 onion, diced 1 teaspoon garlic ginger mince 1 tablespoon whole pilau mix 1/2 kg potatoes, peeled and halved 1kg beef (boiled until tender keep the broth) 2 and 1/2 cups basmati rice (washed) 3 and 1/2 cup broth (diluted with water if not enough) Salt to taste

What to do:-

In a pot over a medium heat, add in the ghee, saute the onions until soft you don't want to brown the onions because if you do your pilau is going to be brown. Authentic Swahili pilau is not supposed brown, but beige in colour.

Go in with one teaspoon garlic, ginger mince mix well now add in the whole pilau mix, continue to cook until nice and fragrant.

Now you can go in with your potatoes, then add in the boiled beef mix well now go in with your basmati rice that is washed.

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Add in some salt to taste, then finally go in with the broth. Bring to a boil until the liquid evaporates.

Once all the liquid is evaporated cover with a tight lid reduce heat to low and let the rice steam for about 10 to 15 minutes on very low heat, once ready fluff up the rice and enjoy pilau with a side of pilipili.

NB: Our whole pilau mix is a combination of:-

Whole cloves

Whole cinnamon sticks

Whole jeera or cumin

Whole black peppercorns

Whole cardamom