If you are in the mood for an exotic rice preparation then this aromatic spice blend is a must. When using pilau spices, the best rice to use would be long grain and preferably the aromatic Basmati Rice. What is it that makes these spices so alluring? They have incredible medicinal and even psychotropic, or mind-altering, capacities. They’re like aromatherapy and they satisfy both the physical and spiritual needs.

This recipe can be doubled or increased to make bulk for storage and it lasts up to 4 months in an airtight glass jar. I use this Spice Blend to make my all time favourite go to 'pop in the oven' One-Pot Ginger Chicken Pilau. My husband loves it and never fails to go for a second helping.

Interesting facts and Ayurvedic uses of these spices : 

Cardamom – used to give flavour and smell in cooking particularly in sweet dishes and also in the pharmaceutical sector. It helps in digestive disorders and controlling bad breath.

Cinnamon  – used for preparing masalas and for seasoning food. It reduces blood cholesterol and helps in the production of insulin.

Cumin – used in cooking and is a good source of iron and keep one immune from diseases. Cumin seeds boiled in water helps in coping with dysentery.

Turmeric – used in cooking and in skin care products. It helps in healing cuts and wounds and in skin problems. It also helps in coping with diabetes.

Black Pepper – used in cooking and seasoning. It helps in coping with muscle pains, cold, cough, infections and digestive problems.

Garlic – used in cooking and helps to cope with cough and cold and has antibiotic properties.

Ginger – used in cooking and helps in cough and cold and aids in preventing digestive problems.

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Pilau Spice Blend

Pilau spice blend or Masala is a spice mix that is made of cumin, cinnamon, black peppercorn seeds and cardamom pods as the basic ingredients. Other added ingredients vary with different regions and recipes as well as personal preference. The spice mix is then normally used to make pilau rice. The recipe below is what I used in my personal blend.

Cuisine Indian, Iranian, Middle East

Keyword black peppercons, cardamom, cumin, garlic, ginger, masala, pilaf, pilau, spices, turmeric

Calories

Author sweetsharings

Ingredients

• ½ tsp ground fresh Cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground Cumin
• ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper
• ½ tsp Ginger powder
• ½ tsp all spice or garam Masala optional
• ½ tsp turmeric powder optional
• 1 tsp ground mixed dried bell pepper
• 1 tsp Garlic powder or granules
• ½ tsp Himalayan Salt or Sea Salt Flakes optional

Instructions

• Put all the above in a bowl, give it a good stir and mix till well combined.
• You can double or triple the amounts if needed.
• Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place.
• Use as needed.

Notes

I grind all organic whole spices. You can use the ready ground powders as a short cut. Your dish will taste just as good though not as aromatic. Recipe can be doubled or increased to make bulk for storage. Lasts up to 4 months.

Did You Try this Recipe? Let me know in the comments. I woud love to know! Alternatively you can Post a photo of it on instagram and mention @sweetsharings with hashtag #sweetsharings

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The post Pilau Spice Blend appeared first on Sweet Sharings.

A little history :

Pilau (UK spelling) or Pilaf (US spelling) is usually a rice dish that involves cooking in stock or broth. Spices and other ingredients are added as well to make a flavourful and nutritious meal.

Pilau was most likely invented in India some time after the importation of Rice to the Indus River valley. It is believed that the earliest forms of our modern word “Pilaf” are the Indo Aryan words “Pula,” (meaning a dish of rice & meat) and / or “Pulāka” (from the Sanskrit meaning a lump of boiled rice).

How long does it take to cook the One-Pot Ginger Chicken Pilau? 

It takes the chicken an hour to cook and an additional 25 minutes for the rice and a standing time of 10 minutes. I marinate or massage the chicken with the ready home made spice blend for just a couple minutes, and Voila! it’s ready to cook.

If you have the time, keep the marinated chicken in the fridge for a couple hours or even overnight. This gives for maximum flavour and tenderness.

Main Equipment :

Heavy Bottom Cast Iron Caserole

You will need a heavy bottom pan with a heavy lid, preferably a Cast Iron casserole with a Heavy Lid.  If you do not have a heavy fitting lid, find a way to securely cover a deep cast iron with double layer of foil. We do not want the broth to bubble and spill over.

Spatchcock Style

I used a shallow Cast iron pan and I did a spatchcock style to get the chicken flat enough to close the lid. Spatchcocking a chicken means to cut the chicken’s back lengthwise down the spine and then flattening it by pressing on the chest. With the bones faced down, the maximum flavour of the chicken will be released into the liquid. The released juices within the enclosure makes for an aromatic and flavourful Rice. As a result of cooking in it’s own fat and juices, you get a delicious and tender chicken.

Be very careful with handling your cast iron casserole as it is VERY heavy and even more so with food in it and is extremely hot. You need safe grip holders/thick oven gloves.

What Spices?

I use only organic ground spices and herbs and make my own blend. It’s a personal preference and I find them much more aromatic and most importantly, non GMO. You can access my home made pilau spice recipe here. 

The cooked chicken is juicy and tender that it slides off the bones easily. As a result, my Basmati turned out moist and fluffy too. Comfort or Autumn food? I say both! Such a delicious one pot comfort food, easy yet nutritious. I made the spice blend long beforehand and stored it in jars just for a rainy day like this.

Recipe Tips

This Pilau goes well with any chicken rice sauce,curry or tomato gravy. I enjoy it though with just a mix of fresh red chillies and tomatoes blended with lemon juice and a little salt... Yumm!

Serve with a leafy salad alongside too. If you’re feeding children, add some vegetable in the pilau itself. I usually add 1 large diced carrot and 1 large deseeded pepper. The vegetables are added in at the time the rice is.

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One-Pot Ginger Chicken Pilau

My own fusion of Asian and Indian cuisine comprising of Rice and chicken cooked in a broth with spices. So easy and tasty, you'll want seconds. Serve a leafy salad alongside it with and optional chicken rice sauce of chillies and tomatoes blended with some lemon juice and salt.

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Asian, Eastern Europe, Indian, Iranian, Middle East, Turkish

Keyword chicken, cuisine, garlic, ginger, indian, iranian, main course, pilaf, pilau, recipe, rice, spices, turkish

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Resting time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories

Author Nurdiyanah Magness

Equipment

• Heavy Bottom caserole with heavy lid. Preferebly Cast Iron.
• Safe Grip holders or thick Oven Mits

Ingredients

• 1 Chicken medium
• 200 gm Basmati Rice
• 2 tbsp Pilau Spice Blend. half for the chicken marinade and half for the rice.
• 4 slices ginger.
• 2 slices fresh turmeric or 1/2 – 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 4 pods Garlic crushed
• 600 ml Water
• some parsley or coriander leaves for garnishing.
• salt to taste pepper or more spices to your liking. (optional)
• ½ Lemon Rind

Notes

Be very careful with handling your cast iron casserole as it is VERY heavy and hot. You need safe grip holders or thick oven gloves. 

Serve with a leafy salad alongside too. If you’re feeding children, add some vegetable in the pilau itself. I usually add 1 large diced carrot and 1 large deseeded pepper. The vegetables are added in with the rice.

This Pilau goes well with any chicken rice sauce, curry or tomato gravy. I enjoy it though with just a mix of fresh red chillies and tomatoes blended with lemon juice and a little salt. 

I’m really excited for you to try this Recipe with your own variations too. If you do try this, I hope you’ll come back to leave a comment. I’d love to know what you think!  Post a photo of it on instagram and mention @sweetsharings with hashtag #sweetsharings

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The post One-Pot Ginger Chicken Pilau appeared first on Sweet Sharings.