East African Pilau Rice with Aromatic Spices and Beef

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-27 · Updated 2026-04-27

Fragrant pilau rice cooked with tender beef chunks and infused with warm spices, a beloved dish across East Africa. This African recipe, ready in about 95 minutes, pairs beef stew meat, basmati rice, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g), cut into 1-inch cubes beef stew meat
• 2 cups, rinsed basmati rice
• 1 large, finely chopped onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp minced ginger
• 2 tbsp (blend of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and cumin) pilau masala spice mix
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped for garnish fresh cilantro

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add 1 large finely chopped onion and sauté for 7 minutes until golden brown. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp minced ginger, cooking for 2 minutes until fragrant.
2. Step 2: Stir in 2 tbsp pilau masala spice mix and 2 tbsp tomato paste, cooking for 1 minute to release the spices’ aroma. Add 1 lb beef stew meat cubes and cook, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes until browned on all sides.
3. Step 3: Pour in 3 cups beef broth, add 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes until beef is tender.
4. Step 4: Add 2 cups rinsed basmati rice to the pot, stir gently to combine, then cover and cook on low heat for 20 minutes until the rice is fluffy and liquid absorbed.
5. Step 5: Remove from heat and let rest covered for 10 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork, garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, and serve hot.