Meatless Pilaf with Vegetables, Carrots, and Onions in a Pan
A quick and simple side dish made from the most common ingredients! Meatless pilaf with vegetables, carrots, and onions is cooked just like the classic meat version. It’s a perfect choice for those who are fasting or following a vegetarian diet.
Updated : 11 November, 2025
Easy
About 30 min.
Ingredients
1 cup
Rice
1
Onion
1
Carrot
100 grams
Garlic
50 milliliters
Vegetable oil
to taste
Dry spices
to taste
Salt
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
You can use any kind of rice - round, long-grain, brown, or red. Avoid parboiled rice, as it doesn’t absorb oil and the pilaf won’t be as flavorful. Use plenty of onions and carrots for juiciness. Add garlic to taste - even up to three heads. I used one. For spices, use a pilaf blend that includes cumin (zira) and barberry.
Step 2
Start by preparing the vegetables. Peel the onion and cut it into quarter rings.
Step 3
Peel the carrots and slice them into thin sticks. Don’t grate them - grated carrots turn mushy, and real pilaf needs texture.
Step 4
Peel the outer layer of the garlic head but keep it whole.
Step 5
Use a deep frying pan or a heavy-bottomed pot. Heat it well over high heat, pour in vegetable oil, and add the onion. Fry for a couple of minutes, stirring, then add the carrots. Cook over high heat, stirring, for about 5 minutes - they should fry, not stew. At the end, add salt and spices and stir well.
Step 6
While the vegetables are frying, rinse the rice thoroughly until the water runs completely clear. This removes starch and keeps the pilaf fluffy. Spread the rinsed rice evenly over the vegetables. Insert the garlic heads into the rice.
Step 7
Gently pour hot water along the side of the pan so that the rice stays on top. Do not stir! The water level should be about ¼ inch above the rice.
Step 8
Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan with a lid, and cook until all the liquid has evaporated - about 10-15 minutes depending on the amount of rice.
Step 9
When no water remains, turn off the heat and let the pilaf rest under the lid for about 15 minutes so the rice finishes cooking.
Step 10
Then remove the garlic and mix the rice with the vegetables. The meatless pilaf is ready - serve it hot.
Step 11
Serve the garlic alongside the pilaf; it becomes soft, steamed, and very aromatic. Enjoy your meal!
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