Name: Pilao ya Nazi
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Comoros, East Africa
Ingredients: 2 cups basmati rice, rinsed; 400 ml coconut milk; 1 cup water; 4 whole cardamom pods, cracked; 4 whole cloves; 1 stick cinnamon; 1 whole onion, sliced; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tsp salt; Â½ tsp turmeric

Pilao ya Nazi

Comorian coconut rice pilaf infused with cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon â€” fragrant and creamy.

Country

Comoros

Region

East Africa

Time

45 min

Serves

Level

easy

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Pilao ya Nazi showcases the Comorian love for coconut, which appears in nearly every dish on the islands. The rice absorbs the rich coconut milk and warm spices, becoming incredibly fragrant and creamy. It is the perfect accompaniment to the islands' seafood dishes and is served at every special occasion.

What the dish tastes like

Comorian coconut rice pilaf infused with cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon â€” fragrant and creamy.

When to cook it

Best for everyday meals, with a easy cooking level and about 45 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Use the interactive recipe fallback or country hub to explore pairings.

Follow the collection route

Pilao ya Nazi belongs to 2 AfroKitchen collections. Vegetarian Africa is the strongest cluster route to start from. Vegetarian Africa

Saute

Heat oil in a pot. Saute sliced onion until golden. Add cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and turmeric. Stir 1 minute.

Saute 08:00

Toast Rice

Add rinsed rice and stir to coat with the spiced oil. Toast for 2 minutes.

Toasting the rice before adding liquid gives each grain a nuttier flavor.

Toast 02:00

Cook

Pour in coconut milk and water. Add salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to lowest heat. Cover tightly and cook until rice is fluffy and liquid absorbed.

Do not stir or lift the lid â€” let the steam cook the rice perfectly.

Cook 20:00

Rest

Remove from heat and let rest covered for 10 minutes.

Rest 10:00

Serve

Fluff gently with a fork. Remove whole spices if desired. Serve as a bed for fish, lobster, or meat stew.

The coconut milk makes the rice slightly sticky and creamy â€” this is the desired texture.

Pilao ya Nazi

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Step-by-step instructions

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