Pilaou

Instructions

1. 1 Season the chicken pieces generously with salt, turmeric, and half the grated ginger. Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot and brown the chicken on all sides until deep golden, about eight minutes total. Remove and set aside.
2. 2 Add the remaining oil to the pot and fry the sliced onion over medium heat for eight to ten minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions turn deep golden brown and caramelized. This provides the essential base flavour for the pilaou.
3. 3 Add the garlic, remaining ginger, cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and nutmeg to the caramelized onions. Stir-fry the spices for one minute until they become very fragrant and the oil takes on a warm golden colour.
4. 4 Add the rinsed and drained rice to the pot, stirring gently to coat every grain with the spiced onion mixture. Toast the rice for two minutes, stirring carefully to avoid breaking the grains, until they become slightly translucent.
5. 5 Return the browned chicken pieces to the pot, nestling them into the rice. Pour the chicken broth over everything and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir once gently, then taste the broth and adjust the salt as needed.
6. 6 Reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting, cover the pot tightly with a lid wrapped in a clean kitchen towel to absorb steam, and cook undisturbed for twenty minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is perfectly fluffy.
7. 7 Remove from heat and let the pilaou rest covered for ten minutes without opening the lid. Fluff the rice gently with a fork, arrange on a large platter with the chicken pieces on top, and garnish with crispy fried onions.