Ploff Plov Food

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.

RUSSIAN LAMB PILAF (PLOV) RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Place the raisins and prunes into a small bowl and pour over enough water to cover. Add lemon juice and let soak for at least 1 hour. Drain. Roughly chop the prunes.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a large pan, add the onion, and cook for 5 minutes. Add cubed lamb, ground lamb, and crushed garlic cloves. Fry for 5 minutes, stirring constantly until browned.
• Pour 2/3 cup (150 milliliters) of stock into the pan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, or until the lamb is tender.
• Add the remaining stock and bring to a boil. Add rinsed long-grain white rice and a large pinch of saffron. Stir, then cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
• Add the drained raisins, drained chopped prunes, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat through for a few minutes, then turn out onto a warmed serving dish and garnish with sprigs of flat-leaf parsley. Source: " Polish & Russian: 70 Traditional Step-by-Step Dishes from Eastern Europe " from the "Cooking Around the World" series by Lesley Chamberlain & Catherine Atkinson (Anness Publishing Ltd., 2006).

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.

KOVURMA SHORVA FROM UZBEKISTAN

Steps:

• Cut meat and sautee until brown.
• Add chopped onions and tomatoes and fry until onions are golden.
• Add 2 cups water, salt, pepper, potatoes, whole chili, fresh dill and cilantro. Bring to a boil, then simmer.
• Add cubed apple. Simmer for 1 hour.
• Garnish with greens.

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.

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.

UKRAINIAN LAMB PLOV

Steps:

• Put the raisins and prunes in a small bowl and pour over enough water to cover.
• Add the lemon juice and leave to soak for at least 1 hour.
• Drain; roughly chop the prunes.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a large pan and cook the onion for 5 minutes.
• Add the lamb fillet cubes, ground lamb and garlic.
• Fry for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until browned.
• Pour in 2/3 cups of the stock.
• Bring to the boil; lower heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour, or until the lamb is tender.
• Add the remaining stock and bring to a boil.
• Add the rice and saffron; stir; cover and simmer for 15 minutes, or until rice is tender.
• Stir in the raisins, chopped prunes, salt and pepper.
• Heat through for a few minutes, serve with sprigs of parsley.

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.