The island nation of Comoros, in the Indian Ocean, has cultural influences from Africa, South Asia and Europe. You can taste all those flavors in this savory pilaou recipe. If you want to learn about opportunities to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Comoros, check out our program openings.
Ingredients:
1 inch piece of ginger
½ tsp pepper
pinch of saffron
½ tsp cinnamon
1 ½ tsp nutmeg
salt to taste
¼ tsp ground cloves
1 lb beef, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 large onions, chopped
4-5 cloves garlic, sliced
½ small can tomato paste
1 ½ tsp garam masala
½ cube maggi
½ tsp cardamom
1 tbsp margarine
2 cups basmati rice
Preparation:
In a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle, mash the first six ingredients together with 3 cloves of garlic and about 1/8 tsp cloves.
Meanwhile, cook the meat lightly in a pot with a small amount of sated water. In another pot, sauté the onions and the rest of the garlic.
Add 1/3rd of the crushed spices to the meat (there should be a little bit of water remaining in the pot, but not much). Add half of the tomato paste and ¾ tsp garam masala, mixing well. Turn off the heat and cover. Set aside.
Wash and drain the rice (the water should run clear).
Now in yet another pot, boil about 2 cups of water and add the Maggi, the rest of the cloves, another 1/3 of the crushed spices and the rest of the tomato paste.
In yet another pot, (yes you will be doing dishes for the rest of your life), melt 1 tbsp of butter. When the butter coats the bottom of the pan, add the rest of the crushed spices, ¾ tsp garam masala and the rice. When the rice is hot, add the water with the spices in it. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 10 minutes or so, or until about half of the water has been absorbed, then add the meat. Cover and continue to cook.
When the rice is almost done, add the garlic and onions and the cardamom. Stir well and cover. When the rice is tender and the water is absorbed, remove from heat and serve.
"My mother was the only woman in her family to finish her education and not get married early. She fought for her education and her brother supported her. So she fought for our education and moved us to the locations with the best educational opportunities."
