Pilau ya Nyama (Kenyan Beef Pilau)
Basmati rice cooked in beef stock with deeply browned onions, whole spices and tender beef and potato, the Kenyan celebration dish.
- Time1 hr 30
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.80 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 741kcal
- 84.3gcarbs
- 4.2gof which sugars
- 27.7gfat
- 10.6gsaturates
- 35.2gprotein
- 5.3gfibre
- 1.4gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Put the beef, water and salt in a large pan. Bring to the boil, skim, then cover and simmer for 40 minutes. Drain, keeping the stock and topping it up with water to make 700 ml.
40 min - 2
Coarsely crush the cumin seeds, peppercorns, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom with a pestle and mortar or the flat of a knife.
- 3
Heat the oil in a large heavy pan with a lid over a medium heat. Cook the onions for 15 to 18 minutes, stirring often, until deep golden brown. This gives the pilau its colour.
16 min 40 s - 4
Add the garlic, ginger and crushed spices and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the beef and fry for 5 minutes.
- 5
Stir in the potatoes and the rinsed rice, then pour in the 700 ml stock. Bring to the boil.
- 6
Cover tightly, turn the heat to the lowest setting and cook for 18 minutes without lifting the lid.
18 min - 7
Take off the heat and rest, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork, scatter over the coriander and serve with kachumbari or a simple tomato and onion salad.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
