Fauzia’s Kitchen Fun

Mince & Veggies Pilau

Fauzia's Kitchen Fun

Servings : Serves 3-4

A light and very delicious pilau that incorporates minced meat and a variety of veggies into the meal.

Ingredients

  • 300 gm basmati rice (1 and a half cups), washed 2-3 times then soaked for half an hour.
  • 200 gm mince (any that you like)
  • 2 tbsp yoghurt
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin/coriander powder
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground roasted cumin powder
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 4 tbsp oil
  • 1/2 tsp garlic paste
  • 1/2 tsp ginger paste
  • a bit of chopped coriander
  • 1/2 cup peas (half boiled)
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
  • 2 carrots, diced (half boiled)
  • 2 tbsp chopped capsicum (optional)
  • 3 tbsp sweet corn
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 1 green chilli, chopped
  • water or stock, warm (for every cup of rice, you will need 1 and quarter cups of water)

Whole Spices

  • 1 tbsp whole cumin seeds
  • 1/2 tsp whole pepper
  • 1 cinnamon
  • 2 cloves
  • 2 cardamom

Instructions

Place a pan on the stove. Remember that the rice will double after cooking and the mince, veggies and potatoes will go in there too so you will need to have enough space in the pan. Turn on the heat and once the pan is hot, add the oil and butter.

Then add the whole spices; cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, cloves.

Once they splutter in the oil, add your chopped onions. Fry them until they are translucent, stirring with a wooden spoon.

Then add the mince, a pinch each of the turmeric, coriander and cumin powders, ginger and garlic pastes and cook until it turns brown in colour, making sure to break up any lumps of mince that form whilst cooking.

Once the mince dries, add the yoghurt and cook until all the moisture is gone…next add the potatoes, chopped tomato, green chilli and capsicum followed by the turmeric and cumin/coriander powder.

Let these fry for a few minutes, then add the carrots, peas and sweet corn, followed by a bit of chopped coriander.

The aroma should by now be brilliant. Stir together for a few minutes, then add the stock/water and some salt. Let the stock simmer and taste for the salt. You should be able to feel the saltiness. If it feels just right, it means you have too little. Remember that the rice will need some salt too, so let the salt be enough that you can taste it to be a bit more than you would want. Not too much of course!

When the water starts boiling, drain your rice (which should have been pre-soaked for about half an hour) and add this rice to the stock. Sprinkle a bit of coriander on this, and stir a little. Let this cook on high heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring now and then, then reduce the heat to medium and keep cooking it whilst covered until the water diminishes, giving it a stir every now and then to make sure all the rice is cooked evenly and perfectly.

Once you find there is very little water left in the rice, reduce the heat to the lowest point possible. Seal your pan by using a tight lid or wetting a kitchen towel and placing it over the pan then placing a lid on top of it.

Leave the rice to continue steaming on very low heat for a good 10 mins. Switch off, and serve!

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