Pilau Rice

Pilau rice is one of my favourite side dishes when I eat a curry. This recipe is fragrant with a vibrant yellow colour. It is very simple to prepare and full of mood and health boosting spices such as turmeric, saffron, cloves and cinnamon.

Pilau rice (also known as Pilaf) is perfect to serve alongside chicken tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, rogan mushrooms and other richly flavoured Indian dishes.

It is also perfect as a base for adding vegetables to as a vegan or vegetarian meal. Simply throw in some small vegetables such as peas, chopped carrots, small broccoli and cauliflower florets and fry them with the onion before adding the water and rice.

Pilau Rice

Serves 4 as a side dish

250g basmati rice, rinsed

500ml boiling water

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 red onion, finely chopped

5 green cardamom pods, bruised

5 cloves

½ cinnamon stick

½ tsp turmeric powder

½ tsp salt

4 saffron strands

How to prepare Pilau Rice

Melt the coconut oil in a large pan. Add the onion and fry on a medium heat for 5 minutes. Toss in the spices and cook for 1 minute. Pour in 480 ml of boiling water, bring to the boil and add the rice. Cover tightly and simmer gently for 15 minutes.

Drain if necessary and fluff up with a fork before serving with your favourite curry recipe.