Ili Pilaf

Ili Pilaf

　　Originally a Uzbek-style dish called "plov," it is also a favorite delicacy among the people of various ethnic groups in Ili. When eating pilaf, ethnic minorities first wash their hands and then eat it with their hands, hence it is called "pilaf" (literally "hand-grabbed rice") in Chinese. The main ingredients are rice, onions, carrots, and lamb (though beef, chicken, duck, or goose meat can also be used), and sometimes raisins, dried apricots, and others are added. The pilaf is glistening and oily, tender and savory, rich in nutrition, and is considered a top-tier ethnic-flavored rice dish.