Pilaf means delicious grain( white, brown or wild rice) mix cooked in a mixture of delicately chopped herbs, vegetables, fruits, nuts and aromatic stock ( or water).

Rice is roasted along with spices, vegetables and nuts for a short time in fat, and then cooked in stock or water with a variety of seasoning and spice blend. A vegetarian rice pilaf can be cooked with a combination of onions, carrot, beans, cauliflower, and tomatoes with spices.Every region has its own recipe to cook pilaf. Depending on the region, the ingredients vary and the blend of spices is different.

When aromatic basmati rice is cooked with everyday vegetables and spices produces a subtle, delicious pilaf which satisfies everyone around the table. This popular vegetable rice dish makes a tasty light brunch or supper. Recipe source is from vegetarian cookbook.

Ingredients

1 cup basmati rice
2 Tbsp oil/ unsalted butter/ ghee
½ tsp cumin seeds
2 bay leaves
4 cardamoms & cloves
1/2 stick cinnamon
1 onion finely chopped
1 carrot finely diced
1/3 cup frozen peas (defrost)
1/3 cup corn (fresh or frozen, defrost)
¼ cup cashew nuts (lightly fried)
¼-½ tsp ground cumin powder
2 cups water to cook

Procedure

Wash and soak rice in water for 30 mins. Heat oil in a large frying pan add sauté cumin seeds for 2 minutes, Add bay leaves, cardamom and cloves and sauté for another 2-3 minutes. Add onions and cook until softened and lightly browned. Now add carrots and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Drain the rice and add to the pan along with peas, corn and cashew nuts and sauté for 4-5 minutes, stir in cumin powder and mix well. Add salt, water and bring to boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes over low heat until the water is absorbed. Let it stand, covered for 10 minutes before serving. Shift it into serving dish fluff up before serving. Or you can finish the dish in rice cooker or pressure cooker.

Enjoy with raita or gravy curry.

Notes and Tips

You can use frozen mixed vegetables, Defrost and then add to the dish. To jazz it up you can add raisins and pistachios. To add more flavor you can use vegetable stock instead of water.

This rice pilaf is called pilav by the Turkish, Bosnian, Serbian and Romanians. Indians call it pulao/ pulav, Americans call it pilaf while the Persians call it polow. What do u want to call it, pilaf, pilau, perloo, peelaf or perlau?