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Tanzanian Pilau (Pilau ya Nyama)

Name: Tanzanian Pilau (Pilau ya Nyama)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Tanzania
Ingredients: 500 g beef chuck or goat meat, cut into 3cm cubes; 400 g long-grain basmati rice, washed and soaked 20 minutes; 3 piece red onions, thinly sliced; 60 ml vegetable oil; 5 clove garlic, crushed; 1 tbsp fresh ginger, crushed; 1 tbsp whole cumin seeds; 1 tsp whole black peppercorns; 6 piece green cardamom pods; 1 piece cinnamon stick (5cm); 5 piece whole cloves; 2 piece medium potatoes, peeled and quartered; 800 ml reserved meat broth and water

Fragrant long-grain rice and tender beef browned with dark caramelized onions and whole-ground pilau masala.

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The story

No Tanzanian wedding, holiday, or festive Sunday gathering is complete without a massive platter of Pilau ya Nyama. Distinct from South Asian biryanis, Swahili pilau is characterized by deeply caramelized onions that tint the rice a rich chestnut hue, combined with a signature dry-toasted spice blend of cumin, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves pounded fresh in a kinu (mortar).

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