Healthy(ish!) Stuff

[Secret Santa]

Avoid Pilau of any kind...

Why's that then? Are you one of the "it ain't pilau if it ain't got half a block of ghee in it" brigade?

My pilau has no oil or fat in it whatsoever and it tastes fine.

[Garp]

Same here. Just a few whole spices in the boiling water for flavour.

[Peripatetic Phil]

My pilau has no oil or fat in it whatsoever and it tastes fine.

Then "it ain't pilau" !
** Phil.

[Mattie]

I do actually prefer plain/salted boiled rice to pilau, but i've never tried putting whole spices into the boiling water,.. ill definitely give that a go next week when I try to do justice to a CTM.  Id happily eat curry every day but my missus gets curry'd out too easily!

[Garp]

Go for it, Matt. A few cloves and split green cardamoms add to the basmati flavour

[Peripatetic Phil]

A few cloves and split green cardamoms add to the basmati flavour

Hmmm.  "A few cloves" is still a lot.  One or two at most, I'd say.  But don't forget the cassia bark and torn Indian bay.  In "real" pulao (with ghee) I also use kala jeera and a little fennel (and some flaked dried garlic).

** Phil.