21 pilau recipes

Polo havidge loobia is a Persian layered rice pilau with sweet carrots, kidney beans, cinnamon, and a crisp potato tahdig crust. Aromatic, vegetarian, and deeply comforting.

Indian vegetable rice pilaf with potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, peas, green beans, and cashews bloomed in mustard seeds, ginger, garlic, and curry powder. A one-pot oven-baked pilau ready in 35 minutes.

Sweet butternut squash is cooked with pearl barley, fresh lemon zest and lemon juice, tossed with cilantro or parsley. Serve it as a tasty side dish or a delicious and wholesome main course.

Polygrain pilaf with brown rice, kasha, millet, and arame seaweed baked in vegetable stock. Topped with steamed carrots, peas, and daikon for a hearty vegan grain bowl.

Rhubarb bulgur pilaf with dried apricots, cinnamon, and a kick of cayenne. A vegetarian grain dish balancing tart rhubarb with sweet fruit and warm spices.

Fast quinoa pilaf with beans, tomatoes, onion, and garlic in one pot. A vegetarian, high-protein grain dish you can season any way you like.

A showstopping Persian jeweled rice (javaher polow) layered with saffron-glazed carrots, barberries, currants, pistachios, almonds, orange peel, and rose water. Topped with a golden tah dig crust.

Itch pilaf is a no-cook Armenian bulgur salad soaked in tomato sauce, brightened with lemon, paprika, and fresh parsley. A cousin of tabbouleh, ready in 15 minutes with zero stove time.

Magenta millet pilaf pressure-cooked with beets, then finished with fresh orange juice, orange zest, and mint. A vibrant vegan whole grain side dish.

Stuffed bell peppers filled with millet pilaf cooked in a cilantro-lime-serrano broth with corn and tomatoes. A vibrant vegan main dish topped with pine nuts.

This savory and scrumptious pilaf is the perfect side dish for a summer barbecue.

Italian pistachio pilaf with basmati rice, seitan, sweet bell peppers, fennel, scallions, and a generous cup of pistachios. A vegetarian Mediterranean main with serious Italian-sausage flavor.

Persian-style pilaf with basmati rice, red lentils and sour cherries perfumed with turmeric and cumin, finished with a buttery golden crust. A sweet-tart, aromatic side or vegetarian main with real character.

This tomato basil bulgur pilaf recipe kicks things up a notch and is packed with fresh summer flavors. We eat it as a bulgur salad or use it with olive oil and pita as a dip or a side dish.

Traditional Turkish bulgur pilaf sauteed with butter, serrano chiles, and tomato, then steamed in stock and finished with fresh mint. An authentic kavurma-style side dish with gentle heat.

Nutty bulgur wheat and tender lentils simmered together in vegetable broth with sauteed onions. A simple, high-fiber pilaf that pairs with any stew or roasted vegetables.