One of the warmest phrases when one is planning a typical Kenyan wedding is “mchele inafaa ikue kwa menu”. Kenyans have adopted rice as the symbol of celebration and happiness. And it’s clear that our ingenuity with this cereal and the many ways we prepare it is not about to end any time soon. One phenomenal rice dish stands above the rest, however. This is pilau.
Pilau is a dish of Persian origin. As the recipe raged through Asia, enjoyed by even the most unlikely of people – Alexander the Great, the recipe landed in India, where it took on new forms and additions to its recipe. Many different kinds of pilau and biryani were innovated during this season in time. The great dish finally arrived on the Kenyan coast during the 1800s when the Indians who were brought to the East African region to construct the British railroad introduced it to us. Today, Indians are recognized as one of Kenya’s 40+ ethnic groups. And pilau is a decidedly Kenyan food, a special guest at nearly every wedding and momentous occasion.
Moving from this king of rice dishes, we find that in the same way Kenyan pilau differs greatly from its Indian counterpart, we have continued to create new ways to enjoy spiced rice. One of these recipes is known as Pilau Njeri. There are mixed opinions on exactly what one needs to make Pilau Njeri; however, the one thing everyone agrees on is that Pilau Njeri needs potatoes and at least an assortment of vegetables to be added to the rice. Convenient and simple to make, Pilau Njeri has become a go-to meal for the fast-paced lives of Kenyans carrying out their daily business.
Still, as Kenyans, we regularly make time to settle down and go through the process of mixing and blooming spices, as well as the patient wait for the cooking of the rice along with the different ingredients of the chosen recipe. Whether one is incorporating peanuts, cashews and other nuts, or peppers, meat, and coconut milk into the process, we love how Kenyans have adopted this new meal over the years and made it our own.
Thinking of making Pilau soon? Here’s an easy recipe by Kaluhi’s Kitchen. Find it here
