Name: Pilau Rice
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 Servings
Cuisine: Other

Jule’s Menu Verified

January 29, 2026

This popular Middle Eastern side dish features Basmati rice cooked in flavorful broth with a savory blend of onions, garlic, cardamom, raisins, and nuts. The result is light, fluffy, and aromatic rice that’s versatile enough to be served with a wide variety of main courses or enjoyed on its own. The natural sweetness of the raisins and the crunch of the nuts add delightful texture and flavor in every bite. It’s easy to customize, so you can adjust the spices or add your favorite ingredients to make it your own signature dish.

From the Cook

1/7

Pilau Rice

Jule’s Menu Verified

Ingredients

WarningTreenuts and 3 other allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Peel the onions and garlic, and dice both finely. Roughly chop the cashews.

Heat oil in a pot, add cashews and raisins and sauté briefly. As soon as the nuts turn light brown and become intensely fragrant, add cardamom, onions and garlic and sauté briefly.

Once the onions are nicely translucent, add the rice to the pot and fry for 2 minutes over medium heat.

Deglaze with hot vegetable broth, bring to a boil briefly, then cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes without stirring .

Remove the pot from the heat and let it stand for another 10 minutes. Only then remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.

Season with salt and pepper if necessary before serving and refine further as desired.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Toasting Technique 🥄
Toast the whole spices like cardamom pods and bay leaf in oil before adding rice to release their maximum aromatic oils and deepen the flavor profile.
Rice Rinsing Ritual 💧
Always rinse basmati rice thoroughly until water runs clear to remove excess starch and ensure fluffy, separated grains during cooking.
Liquid Ratio Precision 📏
Use a 1.5:1 hot vegetable broth to rice ratio for perfectly steamed pilau, which prevents mushiness and maintains ideal rice texture.
Nut Timing Magic ✨
Add cashew nuts in the last 5 minutes of cooking to prevent burning and maintain their crisp, golden texture without becoming bitter.
Raisin Rehydration Hack 🍇
Soak raisins in warm water for 10 minutes before adding to the rice to plump them up and ensure they distribute evenly without drying out.

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About the Cook

Jule’s Menu

Hi, I’m Julia, and I’m the recipe developer, photographer, and author behind Jules’ Menu. I’ve spent the last eight years perfecting healthy everyday recipes so they strike the perfect balance between healthy and nourishing, simple and practical, and gourmet-level delicious.