Best Plov Recipes

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.

UZBEK PLOV

Steps:

• Wash the rice under the tap until clear, cover with cold water and let it soaks for a while.
• Cut the meat with bones into match-box pieces.
• Cut the carrots into 0.5x0.5 cm thick sticks.
• Slice onions into thin rings or half-rings.
• Clean heads of garlic from the remains of roots and dirt.
• Heat oil in the cattle or dutch oven on a very high flame, deep-fry meat until golden-brown, in 3-4 batches. Fry the onions until golden, add meat to the cattle, stir well to prevent onion from burning. Add carrot, stir from time to time, until it starts to wilt and browns a little (15-20 min). Add 2/3 of the cumin - rub it in your palms a little to release flavor, stir gentliy to keep carrot from broking.
• Lower gas to moderate, pour hot water just to cover all the goods, add salt and let it simmer for 40 min to 1.5 hours until almost all water evaporate and meat became tender and juicy. Do not stir.
• Turn gas to max.
• Drain rice well, place it on top the meat and vegs in one layer, stick the garlic and whole chillies in it, and carefully pour boiling water over it (place a spoon or ladle on top of the rice to keep the rice layer from washaway). Cover the rice with about 2 cm of water, let it boil. Add salt to make the water a bit over-salted. When water will go down the rice, reduce the gas a bit, keeping it boils rapidly. Check when it will evaporate and absorb into rice completely - rice should remain rather al dente. Make a holes in the rice to the bottom of a vessel to check the water level.
• Reduce gas to absolute min, cover tightly with the lid and let it steam 20 minutes. Turn of the heat, remove the garlic and chillies on the separate plate. Carefully mix rice with meat and carrots, if the rice tastes a bit blind add some salt, mix and let it stand for 5 minutes. Pile the plov on a big warmed plate and serve with garlic, chilies and plain thinly sliced tomato-sweet onions-chili-salt salad.

CHICKEN PLOV

Steps:

• Place rice in a bowl; cover with warm water.
• Slice onion in a food processor fitted with the slicing disk. Transfer to a bowl. Slice carrots using the same blade.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch saucepan over medium heat. Cook chicken in the hot oil until no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes. Add onion; cook and stir until soft, about 5 minutes. Add carrots; cook and stir until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir dried cherries, cumin, coriander, garlic, and salt into the saucepan. Press down with a spatula to flatten chicken mixture into an even layer in the bottom of the saucepan.
• Drain rice and place over chicken mixture in an even layer. Pour in 3 cups water. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until water is absorbed and rice is tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir.

OSH / PLOV - UZBEK / CENTRAL-ASIAN RICE

Steps:

• Wash the rice. Allow to soak in salted water for 30 minute You can use Thai or basmati rice.
• Cut the lamb shoulder into cubes. It should have some fat. Bones are optional.
• Slice the onions thinly and cut the carrots into strips. You should approximately equal amounts of carrots, onions, and lamb.
• Heat a large cast-iron or metal wok with the oil. Don't use olive oil. Sunflower oil works well. Animal fat tastes richer but is even worse for you and too heavy for many taste buds. While you can get away with any kind of pot, it does taste better if you have an appropriate seasoned instrument.
• Fry the onions until golden brown.
• Add chopped garlic and lightly brown. You can alternatively put the whole cloves into the rice when you cook the rice.
• Add lamb and fry until cubes are lightly browned.
• Add carrots, salt, pepper, all spices (adjust to your taste), and 2 cups of water. Turn down the fire, mix well, and cover for 5 min to allow carrots to soften.
• This completes the first step called "zirvak". You are now ready to cook the rice in the second step. Drain your rice which should have been soaking for 30 minute.
• Push the ingredients to the outer parts of your cooking wok/pot creating a large hole in the centre which will be filled with liquid.
• Carefully add your rice to the centre of the pot. Do not mix it with the rest of the ingredients. Try to fit most of it in the centre "hole".
• Add another 1.5 cups of water, cover the pot and allow to simmer until the rice is cooked and water has been dried up. This will take approximately 30 minute.
• Stir the entire mixture well and serve on a hearty plate or bowl. Top with spring onions. It goes well with a side-serving of salad, tomatoes, and bread. Naan or other type of flat bread would be best.

AZERBAIJANI PLOV (AZERBAIJANIAN PILAF)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Spread almonds on a cookie sheet in a single layer & toast in the oven for about 5 minutes Watch for any sign of burning being sure to regulate heat accordingly. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a heavy 2 quart casserole set over med heat.
• Add rice and stir with a wooden spoon until the rice turns white and opaque.
• Stir in sesame seeds, then pour in chicken stock, ginger, salt and black pepper.
• Stir constantly, then bring to a boil, cover casserole tightly and bake in center of oven for 20-25 mins until the liquid has all been absorbed and rice is tender.
• Sprinkle the reserved almonds over the rice then serve immediately.

BUKHARAN PLOV WITH BEEF, CARROTS AND CUMIN SEEDS

Steps:

• Combine oils in a 7-quart pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes until the onions "taste of the oil" and are golden; remove to plate.
• Add the beef in 2 batches, cooking until browned on all sides, about 30 minutes. Return the beef and onions to the pot, then add 1 1/2 teaspoons of the cumin seeds, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, the black pepper, half the barberries and a handful of the carrots. Add enough water to cover, about 6 cups. Bring to a boil, then cover the pot and simmer over medium heat for 35 minutes.
• While the meat is cooking, wash the rice in a large sieve with cold water until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in warm water for 15 minutes to open it up, drain.
• Toss the remaining carrots with the remaining salt and the cayenne. Spoon the carrots in a layer over the meat, adding more water if needed to cover the carrots. Cover the pot and cook for just a few minutes.
• Without disturbing the carrots, spoon the rice gently on top. Cook, stirring the rice every 10 minutes and making sure not to touch the carrots until the water is evaporated and the rice cooked, about 30 minutes in all. Cover the pot and cook over low heat for 10 more minutes.
• To serve, spoon the rice onto a large platter, then top with the carrots and meat. Sprinkle the scallions on top, along with the remaining cumin seeds, barberries and pomegranate seeds.

ARMINYAN PLOV (ARMENIAN PILAF)

Steps:

• Sauté onion & garlic in olive oil until soft.
• Add kasha & stir well.
• Add all remaining ingredients except sour cream.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover, & cook until liquid is absorbed.
• Top each serving with a generous dollop of sour cream.

PLOV (AZERBAIJAN)

Steps:

• Rinse the rice several times in cold water to remove excess starch.
• Place a few threads of saffron in a cup and add boiling water; cover and leave to infuse.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add rice, reduce heat, but cook rice at a rapid boil until the rice is tender on the outside, but still not done on the inside, 5 to 10 minutes (do not overcook or your plov will be sticky).
• Strain the rice in a colander.
• There are 3 methods you can use to form the crust or qazmaq. The first way is to mix together an egg with 4 tablespoons of the parboiled rice, and 1 or 2 tablespoons of yogurt. Add some of the infused saffron water. The second way is to mix together a glass (8 oz) of flour, a little butter, and a little water to make a sort of dough (you can also add an egg if you want an eggy flavor). This will then be kneaded and rolled out thinly. The third way is to use some potatoes that have been peeled and sliced crosswise.
• Rinse and dry the pan you cooked the rice in; melt a heaping tablespoon of butter, then spread whichever qazmaq you chose on the bottom of the pot and fry a little for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Next spoon half the parboiled rice on top, then pour over half of the saffron infusion.
• Spoon in remaining rice and pour over most of the remaining saffron infusion; top that with a few tablespoons of butter.
• Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke a few holes through the rice to allow steam to escape.
• Cover pot opening with a clean tea towel and cover with a well-fitting lid; increase heat under pot until rice is steaming, then reduce heat and let steam for 35 to 40 minutes (it can go longer if needed).
• Spoon rice onto a serving platter and top with remaining saffron infusion and a few more tablespoons of butter.

PLOV

Steps:

• Cut beef to cubes approximately 1 inch.
• Fry with 1/4 cup vegetable oil (about 15-20 minutes).
• Separately grate carrots and fry it slightly 10-12 minute.
• Cut onions and fry.
• Put meat, onions and carrot in layers in the pot.
• Add 1/4 cup vegetable oil, let it boil.
• Add 1 cup of water, let it boil approximately 20 minute.
• Rinse rice with cold water and make layer above previous layer.
• Add salt and enough additional water to just cover rice, let it boil.
• Cover with lid and put in the oven for about 50-55 minutes at 350°F.

PARCHA-DOSHEME PLOV (AZERBAIJAN)

Steps:

• Rinse the rice in lukewarm water until the water runs clear.
• Fill a large bowl with lukewarm water and a tablespoon of salt and add the rice. Soak for 15 minutes or so.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the peeled chestnuts and stir-fry for 3 minutes.
• Add the apricots, barberries and dates. Keep cooking for another three minutes. Lastly add the golden raisins and stir fry for one more minute. Remove from heat.
• Put 10 cups of salted water in a large pot. Drain the rice and add to the pot. Boil for 7 to 10 minutes. The rice is done when it rises to the top of the pot. Don't overcook! The rice should be just a tiny bit chewy, not too soft. Bite a piece to make sure. Drain it in a colander and set aside.
• Melt a tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Put the uncooked chicken cubes in the bottom of the pot, distributing evenly. Add about a half teaspoon of salt and some pepper. Cover the chicken with the sliced onions and simmer for three minutes or so.
• Cover the chicken and onions with half of the rice. Spread the fruit and nut mixture out on top and then put the rest of the rice on top of that. Pour a tablespoon of melted butter on top.
• Put a clean dishtowel or two layers of paper towel over the pot. Be very careful to fold up the corners or otherwise make certain that the dishtowel or paper towel is nowhere near the flame.
• Put the stockpot lid on top of the towe and turn the heat down to low. Cook for 30 minutes, without stirring or disturbing it in any way.
• Combine the crushed saffron threads with three tablespoons of hot water. Stir until the water turns a deep orange. Pour the saffron water over the top of the plov and continue to cook for another 30 minutes.
• When the plov is done, it should look like this:
• 1. Fluffy rice with separate grains.
• 2. The meat should have a golden crust on the bottom.
• 3. The onion should be translucent (almost invisible).
• Scoop it all out of the pot and arrange it on a big platter. It's ready to serve.

PLOV - RICE AND RAISIN CASSEROLE DISH

Steps:

• In a large cooking pot, add water, rice, salt and lemon juice and bring to boil.
• Cover, reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes or until rice is tender but still firm; DO NOT OVERCOOK.
• Drain rice in a colander and then rinse off slightly with hot water; drain well.
• In a bowl, add raisins and pour some boiling water over to cover and let stand for about 1 minute; drain well.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• In a buttered 9 x 9 inch casserole dish, place a layer (about 1/2 inch thick), then a sprinkling of raisins, a sprinkling of melted butter, and a sprinkling of sugar and salt.
• Repeat layering, a total of 3 layers.
• Pour whipping cream over the top.
• Cover casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in preheated 325 F oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir once during half time of baking.
• Serve warm or cold with milk or additional whipping cream.

PLOFF / PLOV

Steps:

• In a cast iron pot, or dutch oven (any heavy pot that's moderately sized, not large), heat oil and sautee the onion until translucent.
• Add meat with bones, and sear on all sides.
• Add little bit of water, and braise. Don't let it dry out, add more water as you need to continue braising (if you don't have time and prefer stewing, it's OK, but you can't let the meat drown in water and at the same time you can't let it dry out. Be gentle.)
• Add the paprika and garlic. Braise it for total of 45min, or until meat is soft.
• Some cuts will require longer braising times (no shortcuts, meat has to be tender, and a little bit of brown sauce needs to develop).
• Stir and stir, don't let anything stick, just add some more water to make sure you're getting a sauce. Remember, we're working with very little oil here.
• Add the cumin seeds (preferable toasted and crushed).
• Now that the meat is soft, add your parsley, carrots, salt, 1 cup of rice, and 2 cups of water. Mix well, and cover.
• Let cook for about 30-40min on low heat, until all water is absorbed.
• Enjoy!
• Note: True Uzbekistanian ploff also contains dried apricots and dried cherries.