Best Moist Ground Lamb Pilaf Recipes

UYGHUR LAMB PILAF (POLO, 羊肉抓饭)

Steps:

• Cut lamb spare ribs into 1 or 2 segments. Prepare vegetables.
• Heat oil in a wok over medium high heat until warm. Add garlic and ginger. Stir a few times until fragrant.
• Carefully add lamb ribs and let them cook without stirring for 1 minute. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Stir and cook until the surface of ribs is cooked and turns golden brown, about 3 minutes.
• Add onion, stir to mix well, for 1 minute. Add carrot. Stir and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add 3 cups water. Cook until brought to a boil. Skim brown foam from the surface. Add sugar, cumin powder, and chili peppers. Place Sichuan peppercorn in a tea infuser and add it into the wok. Bring to a boil again, then turn to low heat and cover. Cook for 1 hour 30 minutes. During cooking, check on the lamb 3 to 4 times. After 1 hour, add the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. If the water is reducing quickly and no longer covers the lamb, carefully add just enough hot water to cover.
• Forty minutes before the lamb is ready, prepare the rice. Rinse rice 2 to 3 times. Cover with water and let soak for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• When the lamb is ready, use a spatula to push the lamb to the edges of the wok and leave some room in the center. Add rice to fill the space. If the water doesn't cover the rice completely, add more hot water, about 1/2 to 1 cup. Cover the wok and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Uncover, stir, and continue cooking until the water is almost absorbed, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer everything to a large dutch oven (or a big pot with a thick bottom). Cover and simmer over lowest heat for 25 minutes.
• Serve warm.

LAMB PILAF

Steps:

• Place the rice in a bowl and cover with hot water and stir in 1 TBSP salt, let stand for 30 minutes then rinse until the water runs clear.
• Bring the cubes of lamb to the boil in 6 cups of water and simmer, skimming occasionally. Lower the heat and cook until the meat is tender. Strain off the liquid into a bowl.
• Finely chop the onions and gently fry them in melted butter, add the cooked meat, and stir over the heat for few minutes, then add the carrots and stir briefly with wooden spoon.
• Add 2 1/2 cups of the warm meat stock, salt and pepper and bring to the boil and add the rice, stir and lower the heat. Cover and cook until steam for 12-15minutes (or until steam holes appear on the surface. Remove from the heat, cover with a dry kitchen cloth and replace the lid . Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the allspice and cinnamon and serve hot.
• Note: Beef maybe substituted for lamb, but cooking time will be a bit longer.

GROUND LAMB, APRICOT, AND MULTI-GRAIN PILAF

Steps:

• 1. Soak multi-grain rice in water for an hour, then start cooking in a rice cooker or at a low simmer on the stove top.
• 2. When rice starts cooking, heat the olive oil to 300̊ in a large skillet.
• 3. Add the chopped onion to the skillet, and sauté until transparent.
• 4. Brown the ground lamb with and in the same pan as the onion.
• 5. Add the apricots, bay leaves, and beef broth; boil the mixture for about 15 minutes, uncovered, until it is not soupy.
• 6. While the lamb-apricot mixture is boiling down, combine the chopped tomato, slivered almonds, raisins, seasoning, and cinnamon in another dish.
• 7. Stir the combined ingredients into the reduced lamb-apricot mixture. Hold at 160̊ until the rice is finished.
• 8. Add the finished rice to the lamb-apricot-tomato mixture. Bring to a simmer.
• 9. When the pilaf reaches the desired serving consistency, serve.

UZBEK PLOV (LAMB AND RICE PILAF)

Steps:

• Place basmati rice in a large bowl and cover with warm water. Set aside. Wash heads of garlic. Set aside.
• Heat vegetable oil in a dutch oven or large skillet over high heat until smoking, then add lamb, turning occasionally until the lamb is evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in the onions; cook and stir until the onion has softened and browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in the carrots; cook and stir until the carrots have softened, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cumin, coriander, barberries, and peppercorns. Drop whole garlic heads into the mixture, stirring to evenly distribute ingredients. Reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
• Wash and drain basmati rice with hot water. Pour cleaned rice over the lamb mixture in an even layer. Slowly pour in the boiling water. The rice should be covered with about 3/4 inch of water. Do not stir. Season with salt, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook until rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Stir rice and lamb together, and serve with the garlic heads on top.