Shared by Svetlana Davydov and her granddaughter Elena
Plov (Rice Pilaf With Carrots, Cumin, and Beef)
Yield: 6-8 servingsTime: 50 min prep + 40 min inactive
Plov (Rice Pilaf With Carrots, Cumin, and Beef)
Yield: 6-8 servingsTime: 50 min prep + 40 min inactiveFamily Journey
Tashkent, UzbekistanSanta Severa, ItalyQueens, New York City
Long Island, NY
This recipe is featured in our cookbook "The Jewish Holiday Table: A World of Recipes, Traditions & Stories to Celebrate All Year Long." For more holiday recipes from around the world, get your copy!
This recipe was shared by Svetlana Davydov and her granddaughter Elena. Read more about their family in "Pelmeni, Samsa, and More Uzbek Recipes From a Bukharian Grandmother" and try their recipes for pelmeni (beef dumplings), manti (Uzbek dumplings), and samsa (savory pastries).
Ingredients
- 3 large carrots, peeled and cut into julienne strips
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 pound beef chuck, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt
- 2 cups boiling water, or more as needed
- 3 cups medium grain rice, rinsed and drained
Preparation
Step 1
Put about 1 cup of the julienned carrots in a small bowl and set aside. Put the remaining carrots into another bowl, add the cumin seeds, and mix well.
Step 2
Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the beef and fry, without stirring, until the bottoms of the pieces have browned. Stir the meat and continue cooking, turning occasionally, until all sides are nicely browned.
Step 3
Add the onion and 2 teaspoons salt to the beef, stir, and cook until the onion is starting to get soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. With a spatula, scoot the beef and onion to the sides of the pot, clearing a space in the middle. Add the reserved 1 cup carrots to the center of the pot and cook until they're starting to get tender, about 5 minutes, then stir them into the beef and onions.
Step 4
Spread the remaining carrots in one layer on top of the beef and season with 1 teaspoon salt. Add the boiling water, cover the pot, and bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium.
Step 5
Uncover the pot, spread the rice over the carrots in an even layer, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon salt. If necessary, add more boiling water to cover the rice by about ¼ inch. Adjust the heat to maintain a lively simmer and cook the plov until the water has started to evaporate, about 5 minutes. Using a spatula, push the rice into the center of the pot to form a mound. Use the handle of a spatula or large spoon to make 6 deep holes in the rice mixture. Place a shallow heatproof bowl or plate over the plov; alternatively, cut a circle of parchment paper to fit and place it over the plov. Drape a clean dish towel over the pot and cover with the lid, tying up the loose ends of the towel so they don't hang over the burner.
Step 6
Reduce the heat to low and cook the plov until the rice is fully tender and all the water has evaporated, about 40 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Step 7
To serve the plov, spoon the rice and top layer of carrots onto a serving platter and top with the beef mixture. Serve hot.
