Nutritional/General Notes

Pilau Njeri is a common dish prepared in most Kenya households. While the name suggests it is a form of pilau, it is not really one. It is more like a local innovation that involves rices, meats, legumes with a dash of vegetables thrown together into the pot.

Its nutrition constituents are carbohydrates from the rice and vegetables like potatoes, proteins (from the legumes and meats if included) and vitamins (from the green vegetables).

It goes well with fruits or fruit juices after consumption.

Time to Cook

1 hour to 1h 20min

Ingredients

1. 1 kg rice (could be more if cooking for more people)
2. Beef (optional)
3. Onions
4. Tomatoes
5. Garlic
6. Peppers or other assorted spices
7. Vegetable oil
8. Green vegetables like kales or spinach

Instructions

1. Place the vegetable oil and cut onions into a point. Fry until the onions turn golden brown.
2. Add in the garlic and tomatoes. Heat for 5 - 7 minutes.
3. Add in beef. Fry until the meat gets cooked.
4. Add in the assorted spices, pepper and green vegetables. Fry until soft. Meanwhile, you should be washing the rice.
5. Add in the rice and stir until the mixture is even for 1 minute.
6. Add water to the rice. For 1 cup of rice add 2 cups ot water. For 2 cups of rice add 4 cups of water. For 3 cups of rice add 6 cups of water and so on.
7. Let it boil for awhile until the water level drops as the rice becomes full.
8. Next, reduce the heat and let the rice cook slowly until it dries.