Uzbek-Style Pilaf

Plov is what we know as pilaf, an Eastern dish really, but very popular in Russia as well. I first tasted Uzbek plov in Bukhara, where vast quantities of the rice are kept steaming all day in iron cauldrons hung over outdoor fires. For 1 ruble, a bowl was heaped high with rice and vegetables, either pumpkin and squash, or carrots and onion with just a hint of saffron, as in the recipe below. Plov is perfect for entertaining, since it is simple to prepare and feeds a crowd. Serve it liberall