National Dish of Afghanistan Kabuli Palau

Ingredients for Kabuli Palau

Kabuli Palau (Also known as Quaboli Palaw, Qabili Palau or Palao, Palaw, Pilau or Pilaf, and Qabili/Kabuli Palau) is a popular meal in Afghanistan. It is a mixed rice dish containing flavorful lamb or chicken chunks, carrot strips, raisins, and eastern spices. It is traditionally topped with chopped almonds or pistachios.

Directions for Preparing Kabuli Palau

1. Sauté the diced onion in vegetable oil until it begins to caramelize.
2. Add the chicken or lamb pieces and stir fry until the meat is lightly browned.
3. Add two cups of water to the pot and add a teaspoon each of salt, cumin, ground cardamom, cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon of saffron powder.
4. Cover the pot and allow the meat to simmer in this broth for about an hour or until the meat becomes tender. Remove the meat from the pot and set it aside separately.
5. Add two cups of rice to the broth and cook until the rice grains are tender.
6. Sauté the carrot strips in a mixture of ¼ cup vegetable oil and one teaspoon of sugar until the carrots become lightly browned.
7. Remove the carrot pieces and cook the sultanas or raisins in the oil until they become swollen.
8. Mix the cooked rice, carrot strips, raisins, and meat together and place it into a greased casserole dish. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 300° Fahrenheit for approximately 45 minutes.
9. After plating, sprinkle chopped almonds or pistachios on the top and enjoy Quaboli Palaw.

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