Pilaf is one of the most popular dishes of oriental cuisine, which has a very ancient history. This dish always takes the main place on the table, and its preparation is considered a special art. In the East, no solemn event can do without an amber fragrant dish. Our article will discuss how to cook pilaf with lamb and dried fruits.
Which rice to choose?
It is difficult to give a definite answer to this question. Each lover of oriental cuisine may have their own preferences. Traditionally, pilaf with lamb and dried fruits is prepared from hard rice. Its grains are transparent, have a milky white hue and an elongated shape. This cereal contains amylose - a substance that gives rice friability. However, in order to prepare a dish of such rice, it will take much more time. The amount of liquid that will have to be added to pilaf with lamb and dried fruits will also have to be increased.
The best rice for making dishes is devzira. This is an elite variety of cereals, having a red-brown color and a bright strip on its side. Heat-treated
(steamed) rice is also suitable for
cooking pilaf , however, it has a specific flavor, which not everyone can get used to. Round, medium, or crushed cereals are not suitable for making a dish.
Ingredients
In order to cook a real pilaf with lamb and dried fruits, you will need the following products:
- rice (long-grain) - 2 glasses;
- lamb - 500 grams;
- carrots - 4 pieces;
- onions - 3 pieces;
- vegetable oil - 100 grams;
- fat (beef or mutton) - 100 grams;
- raisins - 100 grams;
- dried apricots - 100 grams;
- prunes - 100 grams;
- barberry, salt, herbs - to taste;
- mix of spices for pilaf - to taste.
Cooking method
The recipe for pilaf with dried fruits involves the following actions.
- To begin with, washed dried fruits (dried apricots, raisins and prunes) are poured with water for swelling for one hour.
- After that, you need to rinse the rice in several waters, put in a deep container, add water and leave for 30-40 minutes.
- Peeled carrots need to be cut into long cubes, and onions - in half rings.
- Wash and cut the lamb into small pieces.
- Take a pot with a thick bottom and walls. Well made dishes made of cast iron. The most suitable option is a cauldron. Pieces of lamb should be placed in it and fried in a heated mixture of lamb fat and vegetable oil.
- As soon as the meat is covered with a crust, you need to add onion to it. Vegetable should be fried until transparent. This one will take about five minutes.
- After that, add carrots to the cauldron and fry for about ten minutes.
- Next, the swollen rice needs to be thrown back onto a sieve or colander so that the glass water.
- Pour two glasses of boiled hot water into a cauldron with meat and vegetables, add a mixture of spices, salt, barberry, mix all the ingredients thoroughly and bring to a boil.
- Place dried fruits on the meat, place a layer of rice on top, gently smooth the surface of the cereal and gently crush it with a spoon.
- After that, carefully, trying not to disturb the rice layer, add another glass of boiled water to the cauldron.
- We put out the future pilaf, without covering, on moderate heat until the liquid is completely absorbed in rice.
- Next, you need to pierce the pilaf with lamb and dried fruits with a spatula in several places and pour one tablespoon of boiled water into the resulting cavities. Close the cauldron with a lid.
- Next, the fire on the stove must be reduced to a minimum and simmer on it a dish for another half an hour until cooked.
Pilaf with dried fruits and meat is ready! Before serving, it must be mixed and laid out on a plate in the following order: first rice, then dried fruits, then onions and carrots, and on top - lamb. The finished dish can be sprinkled with chopped herbs.
Multicooking
Nowadays, not only a stove, but also other modern household devices are used for cooking. Pilaf with dried fruits in a slow cooker is easy. For this, the products must be loaded into the bowl in a strictly established sequence: meat, carrots, onions, dried fruits, rice, spices, salt, water, oil. After that, you need to set the device in the "Pilaf" or "Rice" mode and calmly do other household chores.
Enjoy your meal!