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Author Topic: British Indian 2go Pillau rice  (read 58,983 times)

AI Summary
The discussion revolves around a recipe for pilau rice shared by a user named Aussie Mick, who emphasizes the importance of using high-quality rice and specific cooking techniques, including washing and soaking the rice, adding lemon juice, oil, and a Shan Pillau Biryani mix. While some users express skepticism about the use of the Shan mix and the washing process, others defend Mick's approach, noting that it has garnered positive feedback from customers. The community appears divided on the authenticity of Mick's method compared to traditional BIR pilau rice, but there is a general appreciation for the shared knowledge and experiences regarding rice preparation.

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Offline Aussie Mick

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British Indian 2go Pillau rice
« on: December 12, 2012, 04:36 PM »
This is how we do our rice.

Firstly, buy the best rice you can afford. We use "Aeroplane LA Taste". Expensive but you get what you pay for.

Wash the rice several times and soak in hot water for at least 20 min's

Boil up water (this is the excessive water method, so make sure you have plenty in there) and add some lemon juice, salt and oil to the water.

Put the rice in and stir. Keep a close eye, it won't take long because it has been soaking. When it is "al dente" strain immediately, put into a large enough container and work a bit of oil through the rice (stops it clumping together. Add some Shan Pillau Biryani mix. (If you are cooking enough for 4 servings, you will only need about a quarter of a packet). Then fry up a tarka of cumin seeds, Indian bay, cardamoms, cassia bask and whatever else takes your fancy ie cloves etc. Pour this into the rice.

Then make a mix of rose water with your favourite food colouring. Pour this into the rice and allow the colours to "set" for a couple of minutes. Mix thoroughly and ENJOY. 8)
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Offline George

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Re: British Indian 2go Pillau rice
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2012, 04:43 PM »
Quote from: Aussie Mick on December 12, 2012, 04:36 PM
add some lemon juice, salt and oil to the water.

How much of each, please?
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Offline Aussie Mick

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Re: British Indian 2go Pillau rice
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2012, 04:47 PM »
Hi George,

Fora 4 portion size, I would say probably a tablespoon  each of lemon and oil and a pinch of salt. We obviously cook much larger quantities, and we basically add a good glug of oil and lemon and a small handfull of salt.

Cheers Mike 8)
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Offline RubyDoo

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Re: British Indian 2go Pillau rice
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2012, 12:18 PM »
Interesting to see that you wash and soak the rice. 
As guided / suggested by Julian and Dave loyden, I never wash or soak, just pick over for little stoney bits. Never had a bad one.  8). Use proper aged rice though..
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Offline h4ppy-chris

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Re: British Indian 2go Pillau rice
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2012, 12:30 PM »
thanks mick for taking the time to post the recipe.
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Offline George

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Re: British Indian 2go Pillau rice
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2012, 01:13 PM »
Quote from: Aussie Mick on December 12, 2012, 04:36 PM
Add some Shan Pillau Biryani mix. (If you are cooking enough for 4 servings, you will only need about a quarter of a packet). Then fry up a tarka of cumin seeds, Indian bay, cardamoms, cassia bask and whatever else takes your fancy ie cloves etc.

You obviously selected the best recipe you know for pilau rice, in order to maximise customer satisfaction but I've never heard of anything like the Shan mix being added. Does it result in the pilau rice going a bit brown? i.e. rather than the pure white I typically see in a BIR (plus colours like red and green added to pure white grains).

I added some lemon juice to rice last night and couldn't tell any difference, to be honest.  What's your rationale for adding lemon juice?
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Offline Peripatetic Phil

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Re: British Indian 2go Pillau rice
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2012, 01:51 PM »
Quote from: George on December 13, 2012, 01:13 PM
You obviously selected the best recipe you know for pilau rice, in order to maximise customer satisfaction but I've never heard of anything like the Shan mix being added. Does it result in the pilau rice going a bit brown? i.e. rather than the pure white I typically see in a BIR (plus colours like red and green added to pure white grains).

It does for me, which is why I tried it once and never again.  The Shan Pulau mix that I bought had not only whole spices (which barely affect the colour) but also ground spices of varying degrees of coarseness.  Since that one disastrous experiment I have reverted to my earlier method which uses only whole spices and leaves the rice beautifully white (particularly if one washes it thoroughly first).

** Phil.
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Offline Aussie Mick

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Re: British Indian 2go Pillau rice
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2012, 04:54 PM »
I suppose it's a love/hate thing with Shan Pillau biryani mix. Personally I'm in the "love" section. Many of our customers have commented on how much they prefer the "new improved rice".

George, according to Raj, adding the oil and lemon juice to the water, stops the rice sticking and will also compensate if you overcook it slightly, which is very easily done in a busy restaurant kitchen. Our rice pan is so huge, we cannot carry it to the sink, we have to scoop out the rice with a jug into buckets and drain in collanders in the sink. This process can take a good 5, 6 or 7 minutes after the rice has been cooked. The lemon holds off the "mushiness" effect.

If it is too overcooked, we get it straight into the coolroom for 1/2 an hour, and it is then still useable.

BTW, if you don't wash your rice THOROUGHLY before use, you could be putting sand/grit/soil and god knows what else into your body. Many restaurants don't wash it, coz it takes time, and THEY won't be eating it......simple as. Same goes for lentils, they need 3 times the amount of washing that rice needs. Our rice is aged basmatti rice and to the best of my knowledge, there isn't a more expensive rice available in Perth. It still needs a good wash however, as it's grown in a field with soil, sand, crap etc all over it. :o
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Offline Secret Santa

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Re: British Indian 2go Pillau rice
« Reply #8 on: December 13, 2012, 06:44 PM »
The basmati rice we get in the UK is always perfectly clean Mick so we don't need to do any pre-washing. The pilau though does sound odd for a BIR, but if it works for your customers who's to say it's wrong.
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Offline George

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Re: British Indian 2go Pillau rice
« Reply #9 on: December 13, 2012, 06:59 PM »
Quote from: Aussie Mick on December 13, 2012, 04:54 PM
I suppose it's a love/hate thing with Shan Pillau biryani mix. Personally I'm in the "love" section. Many of our customers have commented on how much they prefer the "new improved rice".

I'm not doubting how good your rice might taste. It's only that it doesn't sound like BIR pilau rice as I know it. You may have said before, but how much exposure have you had, if any, to curry houses (BIRs) actually in the UK? Probably more than I have, for all I know!
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