pilau

American  

[pi-lahf, pee-lahf, pi-law, -lou, pee-law, -lou] / pɪˈlɑf, ˈpi lɑf, pɪˈlɔ, -ˈlaʊ, ˈpi lɔ, -laʊ /

Or pilaw

noun

1. pilaf.

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pilau British  

/ pɪˈlaʊ, pʊˈlaʊ, pɪˈlɔː, ˈpɪlæf, pɪˈlaʊ /

noun

1. a dish originating from the East, consisting of rice flavoured with spices and cooked in stock, to which meat, poultry, or fish may be added

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Etymology

Origin of pilau

C17: from Turkish pilāw, from Persian

Example Sentences

He said Holland tucked into a chicken tikka masala, pilau rice and a garlic naan, while Zendaya enjoyed a chana saag bengan, paneer shaslik starter with a side of saag aloo.

From BBC • Dec. 22, 2025

As he puts it, “There are recipes that come home to me because of my own Gullah Geechee experience”—specifically chicken pilau, chicken perloo and jambalaya.

From Salon • Feb. 22, 2025

There was usually lots of fried fish and other seafood, like octopus, squid and crab, and always a pile of pilau — rice cooked with broth and some kind of meat, usually beef.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 26, 2021

I found the usual pilau rice and hand-pulled laghmen noodles – central-Asian dishes that are staples of Uighur cuisine, and which Karim’s kitchen did very well.

From The Guardian • Aug. 7, 2018

“The pilau there, such a lovely smell, and it has roasted nuts in it—or no, I think the fritters will last longer....”

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya