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pilaf with beef in a white bowl with a fork.
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5 from 1 vote

Easy Classic Pilaf Recipe with Beef (Beef Plov)

Beef pilaf (beef plov) all in one pot is hearty, cozy, and oh-so-tasty. This easy classic pilaf recipe is one that you'll want to make over and over again on a busy midweek meal.
Total Time2 hours
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: Meat & Stews, Meat Dishes, Russian
Allergy: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free
Servings: 5
Calories: 417kcal
Author: Marina Rizhkov

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 Tbsp light olive oil
  • 1 lb beef or lamb cut into cubes
  • 2-3 carrots, grated
  • 1½ Tbsp cumin
  • 1 tsp salt, more to taste
  • black pepper, to taste
  • 1-2 cloves garlic, or whole small head of garlic
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup white rice

Instructions

  • On medium heat, in a pot, pour 4-5 Tablespoons of oil, peel onion, and take the first layer first off and put it in pan. Then, chop the rest of the onion and put aside.
    1 Tbsp light olive oil, 1 yellow onion,
    onion browned in a grey pot.
  • After onion gets brown/gold color, take it out and throw away (This step is just for the flavor.)
  • In the same pot, turn down the heat to medium-low, add in the meat (stew size cut), sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper. Stir.
    1 lb beef, 1 tsp salt,, black pepper,
    a grey pot with cooked beef.
  • While meat is frying, grate the carrots, wash the rice, and if you haven’t already, chop the onion.
    2-3 carrots,, 1 cup white rice, 1 yellow onion,
    grated carrots on a white plate and chopped onions in a red dish.
  • When meat has browned up a little bit, add in the onion, stir, and let the flavors of meat and onion blend together for 1-2 minutes.
    1 yellow onion,
    beef sauteed in a pot with onions.
  • Add in the carrots, mix, and add in 2 cups of water, 1 1/2 Tablespoons of Cumin, and 1 teaspoon of salt (or to taste).
    2-3 carrots,, 1½ Tbsp cumin, 2 cups water, 1 tsp salt,
    beef stock carrots and spices in a pot all together with wooden handles.
  • Peel garlic and add to pan. Don’t mince; I used one garlic clove because I had a big garlic as a whole, If you have a smaller garlic you could even use it all or few cloves.
    1-2 cloves garlic,
    carrots garlic and beef cooking in a pot.
  • Bring to a boil, turn heat to low, and put in the washed rice but don’t stir it.
    1 cup white rice
    ingredients in a grey pot with rice on top.
  • Cover pan, set on low heat if you haven’t already and let it cook for 35-40 minutes before enjoying.
    a pot with cooked rice in it.

Notes

  • Don't put more water than the water rice ration 2:1
  • If your head of garlic is small, use the whole garlic. 
  • Taste the water before putting the rice in the water; this will determine how beef pilaf will taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 417kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 553mg | Potassium: 432mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 4100IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3mg