East African Beef Pilaf

Ingredients

• 250 g beef
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tomato
• 1 onion
• to taste vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp cumin powder
• 2 pods cardamom, seeds removed
• 1½ tsp powdered pepper
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• to taste cloves
• 2 onions
• 1½ tsp turmeric powder
• 1½ tsp coriander powder
• ½ tsp garlic paste
• to taste coriander
• 400 g rice, washed and soaked for 10 minutes

Steps

1. Place the beef in a pot with water, ginger-garlic paste, salt, grated tomato, and grated onion.
2. Bring to a boil.
3. Cook until the meat is tender.
4. Remove the meat.
5. Set aside.
6. Save the resulting broth for cooking the rice.
7. Heat a layer of cooking oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
8. Add the cumin, cardamom seeds, pepper, cinnamon, and cloves.
9. Then, cook until the spices splutter.
10. Add the chopped onion.
11. Cook, stirring, until translucent.
12. If you want a darker pilaf, fry the onions until they are caramelized.
13. Stir in the turmeric and coriander powder.
14. Let fry for a few minutes.
15. Stir in the garlic paste and a bit of chopped fresh coriander.
16. Add the cooked meat.
17. Stir together for 2 minutes.
18. Add the broth.
19. Bring to a simmer.
20. Adjust the seasoning with salt to taste—make sure to add enough salt because you still need to add the rice.
21. Stir in the rice and a little coriander.
22. Cook on high heat for about 3 minutes.
23. Reduce the heat to medium.
24. Cover the pot.
25. Cook, stirring periodically, until the rice has absorbed the water.
26. Reduce the heat to low.
27. Let the rice finish steaming for 5 minutes.
28. Remove from the heat.
29. Serve with kachumbari.