Note: This is an older recipe. We have since changed to a plant-based diet and love it. It’s better for our health, all living and the planet. This recipe can easily be made with vegan ground meat too.
Pilaf (also known as pilau and plov) is a rice dish that we really like, I will share our recipe another time. This is a diversion of the original pilaf, and we call it noodle pilaf. This very simple recipe has done the job of feeding a large amount of hungry teenage boys, a needy family as casserole, a satisfying dish for hard working men, or a dinner for guests – and it always was a winner.
For this recipe you can use fresh or frozen carrots. Also we like to use real onions, preferably homegrown, but if needed it can be substituted with onion powder. Just do best you can to make a wholesome meal.
We have made this dish for years using two pots and it is fairly easy. You can use any pasta of your choice just don’t overcook it. But it can be made even easier using the Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Version
The Instant Pot really brings out this recipe. Grains are better digestible when cooked in a high pressure cooker, and cooking it all in one pot makes a very yummy dish.
Start according to the recipe instruction (see below). Just instead of using a frying pan, use the Instant Pot on Saute, Fry everything till it is half done, than add the dry noodles and mix well.
Now add 3-4 cups of boiling water. The water should just cover the ingredients.
Cover the pot and hit the manual button and set for 4 minutes.
Allow the pot to come to pressure, when the timer is off do a quick release. (If you like pasta well done, wait another minute or two before releasing the pressure).
Your noodle pilaf is all done to be eaten as is all to top with cheese for a casserole.
Casserole version
(Great for making ahead of time): put the ready-made pilaf into a baking dish and sprinkle it with your favorite cheese or cheese sauce. Refrigerate up to 24 hours or freeze.
Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Bake casserole, covered, for 30 min. or until heated through, uncovering after 15 min and let the cheese brown if so desired.
For vegetable lovers
Green beans go very well with this recipe. You can even replace half of the noodles with green beans, or add green beans to the pilaf. Also a good way to extend the leftover pilaf to a new dish.
- 1 pound ground meat or vegan meat substitute
- 1 - 2 chopped onions
- 0,5 – 1 pound chopped carrots
- Garlic (optional)
- 1 pound pasta, we prefer rotini noodles, any would work – plain, whole grain, gluten free …
- 1-3 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and paprika to taste
- Prepare the meat, onions, and carrots in a frying pan, adding them one after another so everything is nicely browned. Season with salt (about 1 teaspoon) and paprika.
- Cook pasta as directed on package and drain (do not overcook).
- Combine the pasta and the fried meat / vegetables in a big pot or dish, add olive oil, and mix well. Oil is a natural taste intenser. Serve.
- For the Instant Pot version: Start according to the recipe instruction just instead of using a frying pan, use the Instant Pot on Saute, Fry everything till it is half done, than add the dry noodles and mix well. Now add 3-4 cups of boiling water. The water should just cover the ingredients. Cover the pot and hit the manual button and set for 4 minutes. Allow the pot to come to pressure, when the timer is off do a quick release. (If you like pasta well done, wait another minute or two before releasing the pressure).
- For the casserole version: (great for making ahead of time): put pilaf into a baking dish and sprinkle it with your favorite cheese. Refrigerate up to 24 hours or freeze. Preheat your oven to 375ºF. Bake casserole, covered, for 30 min. or until heated through, uncovering after 15 min. and let the cheese brown if so desired.
- For vegetable lovers: Green beans go very well with this recipe. You can even replace half of the noodles with green beans, or add green beans to the pilaf. Also a good way to extend the leftover pilaf to a new dish.
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Ooo…that looks yummy, Anna! It kind of looks like Fall, too! 🙂
You’r right, it does, I never thought about it :). I wish our outdoors would look like Fall too, but it is very much looking like Christmas.
That look good and easy to make. Thanks for sharing.
This sounds great. I love deer meat! And those green beans on the plate look wonderful. I love green beans.
Sounds like great comfort food to me 🙂 Yum!! ~Renee
This looks so easy to make. I am always looking for easy recipes. May try this one out!
I love rotini! Great way to get some veggies into the kids, too 😉 Thanks for linking it up to Let’s Get Real!
My kids would love this! I am going to pin to my personal boards as well as to the Bloggers Brags board. Thanks for linking up on the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party.
My youngest loves pasta, but doens’t eat vegetables. This might be a way to get some carrots in him. I’ve found that cooking carrots with ground beef adds really delicious sweetness to the meat. Nice and simple. Who needs that awful hamburger helper?
This looks good, my teens would love this, pinning to my everything yummy board. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays, come by tomorrow and share again.
This sounds wonderful and so versatile! I will be making & freezing a huge batch very soon. Thanks for this!
You are welcome Jo. Hope you like it.