Easy Pilau rice in your rice cooker

Pilau rice or pilaf can be a fragrant side or showstopping main.

Indian pilau rice in balti dish served with chicken tikka masala curry, plain naan bread, vegetable samosas, and onion bhajis

Pilaf or pilau is a rice dish, or in some regions, a wheat dish. The recipe usually involves cooking in stock or broth, adding spices, and other ingredients such as vegetables or meat. The technique for cooking achieves rice grains that do not stick together.

AuthorHungry PandaCategoryDifficultyBeginner

This pilau rice is a really easy side dish that you can whip up in no time with your rice cooker. This version is vegan and really delicious. We served this as part of a finger-food medley of samosas and pakora but it could be paired with curries, any other main dish that you want to add a bit more flavour to.

Yields2 Servings
Prep Time5 minsCook Time40 minsTotal Time45 mins

 1 tbsp groundnut oil
 1 small onion, finely chopped
 1 cinnamon stick, split lengthways
 ¾ tsp cumin seeds, dry-toasted in a pan and crushed (or the same amount of cumin powder)
 2 cardamom pods
 2 tsp ground tumeric
 6 cloves
 1 pinch fresh thyme
 2 bay leaves
 2 cups long grain white rice (rice measuring cups)

1

Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and gently cook until softened.

2

Stir in the spices and herbs and cook for 1 minute then add the rice and stir until coated.

3

Transfer rice and spice/onion mix to your rice cooker bowl and add cold water to the level 2 on the inner bowl.

4

Close the lid and press start (make sure the setting is on white or long grain).

5

Once cooked, open the lid, fluff up the rice with the spatula and remove the remaining whole pieces of spice.

Ingredients

 1 tbsp groundnut oil
 1 small onion, finely chopped
 1 cinnamon stick, split lengthways
 ¾ tsp cumin seeds, dry-toasted in a pan and crushed (or the same amount of cumin powder)
 2 cardamom pods
 2 tsp ground tumeric
 6 cloves
 1 pinch fresh thyme
 2 bay leaves
 2 cups long grain white rice (rice measuring cups)

Directions

1

Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and gently cook until softened.

2

Stir in the spices and herbs and cook for 1 minute then add the rice and stir until coated.

3

Transfer rice and spice/onion mix to your rice cooker bowl and add cold water to the level 2 on the inner bowl.

4

Close the lid and press start (make sure the setting is on white or long grain).

5

Once cooked, open the lid, fluff up the rice with the spatula and remove the remaining whole pieces of spice.

Easy Pilau Rice

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This pilau rice is a really easy side dish that you can whip up in no time with your rice cooker. This version is vegan and really

delicious. We served this as part of a finger- food medley of samosas and pakora but it

could be paired with curries or any other main dish that you want to add a bit more flavour to.