“Plov” - Perfect Meal for Toddlers and Families
Winter, lockdown, and rainy (or snowy!) days are calling for some comfort food. Since all of us are home (and we like to eat!), my husband and I try to cook meals in large quantities and store them for a few days. “Plov” or “Pilaf” is ideal for that. My daughter loves loves loves the Plov. She never failed to enjoy it from the first time she tried. It’s one of the very few meals she didn’t get tired of and always gets excited seeing it on her plate. This is also a very easy meal to make!
In Russia, we know this meal as “Uzbek Plov”. The meal is popular in many countries in the Middle East. I am sure the most authentic Plov to try would be there, in one of the Middle Eastern countries. However, somehow Plov has settled into Russian cuisine, and many families have their recipe for making Plov that is passed through generations and exchanged with other families. I am going to share with you the way I make Plov. It is our family recipe adapted with some tricks I learnt from friends too.
If you make it please share your pictures with me on Instagram and leave a comment below!
Ingredients:
diced lamb (I most often use leg) 800g
diced onion (1 or 2)
carrots, cut into small pieces (4 large carrots)
rice (500g)
garlic (8 cloves)
lamb or vegetable stock (2 cubes)
salt and pepper
some vegetable oil
Method:
In a large casserole cook the onion over medium heat until soft, add the lamb, salt, pepper to taste, and continue cooking until lamb is no longer pink.
Reduce the heat, add carrots cut into small pieces as a layer on top of the lamb. Do not mix. The way you cut carrots will influence the taste you get. I tend to vary from dicing to grating on large size grater depending on the day.
Wash rice and add on top of carrots, spread evenly, and do not mix. Add stock with water to cover 1cm above rice. Cover and cook on small heat.
Once water is absorbed by rice a bit, add garlic cloves peeled but not cut on top and push them into the rice.
Continue cooking for about 30 mins until the water is gone. I poke the Plov with a long knife to check that.
Leave to stand for some time, it will only gets better!
Enjoy