Russian Lamb Pilaf (Plov) Recipe

Name: Russian Lamb Pilaf (Plov) Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 110 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2 ounces/50 g raisins; 4 ounces/115 g pitted prunes; 1 tablespoon/15 ml fresh lemon juice; 1 ounce/25 g butter; 1 large onion (chopped); 1 pound/450 g boneless lamb (trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch/1-cm cubes); 8 ounces/225 g lean ground lamb; 2 garlic cloves (crushed); 2 1/2 cups/600 ml lamb stock (or vegetable stock); 2 cups/350 g long-grain white rice (rinsed and drained); Large pinch saffron; Salt and pepper (to taste); Garnish: flat-leaf parsley

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 90 mins

Total: 110 mins

Servings: 6 servings

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This Russian lamb pilaf recipe, known as plov in Russian, is made with long-grain white rice, saffron, raisins, prunes, and a combination of boneless lamb cubes and ground lamb.

Pilafs are a popular way to use rice in Eastern Europe and throughout the world where it is known as pilau in Turkey and pilaf in the Middle East. Rice pilaf also is known as pilau, perloo, perlau, plaw, pilaw, and pilaff, depending on where you live.

Essentially, a pilaf is made by toasting the rice in hot butter or oil and then adding hot stock or water and simmering, covered, until all the liquid is absorbed.

In Eastern Europe, this "pilaf method" of cooking also can be applied to other grains like barley, buckwheat groats, millet, and others.

2 ounces (50 grams) raisins
4 ounces (115 grams) pitted prunes
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 pound (450 grams) boneless lamb, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch (1-centimeter) cubes
8 ounces (225 grams) ground lamb
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 1/2 cups (600 milliliters) lamb stock, or vegetable stock
2 cups (350 grams) long-grain white rice, rinsed and drained
1 large pinch saffron
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

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).

Variation

Substitute chunks of pork loin or bone-in chicken pieces for the lamb. The raisins and prunes work well with these other proteins.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
524	Calories
27g	Fat
39g	Carbs
31g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories	524
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g	35%
Saturated Fat 12g	61%
Cholesterol 120mg	40%
Sodium 493mg	21%
Total Carbohydrate 39g	14%
Dietary Fiber 2g	8%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 7mg	35%
Calcium 52mg	4%
Iron 3mg	15%
Potassium 664mg	14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.