Sarimsaaqli Palaaw (Central Asian Garlic Pilaf)

3/4 c Oil

5 sm Onions, diced

1 lb Lamb leg meat, cubed

4 lg Carrots, cut into julienne

Water 12 Garlic heads

5 c Rice, soaked in 5 changes

-of water and drained 1 t Salt

1 t Ground cumin

1 t Ground red pepper or cayenne

This is recently invented Central Asian pilaf, dating from just after World War II. At first popular among teahouse pilaf cooks in eastern Uzbekistan, it`s now cooked all over that country. Most people squish out the mild cooked garlic from the whole cloves and use it as a sauce for the pilaf. From "Plovy na Liubol Vkus" by Karim Makhmudov. Put oil in large pot, add onions and saute over medium heat until light brown. Add meat and stir until browned. Add carrots and 5 cups water, and cook over medium-high heat until meat is tender, about 7 minutes. Mix whole heads of garlic into stew and sprinkle rinsed rice over. Add 8 cups water, taking care not to disturb layering of rice and stew, and boil uncovered until rice absorbs water, about 40-45 minutes. When rice is done, heap rice in pot, cover, reduce heat to minimum, cover pot and steam 25-30 minutes. Serve 1 head garlic with each portion of pilaf. Makes 10-12 servings. Each of 10 servings contains about: 569 calories; 278 milligrams sodium; 22 milligrams cholesterol; 19 grams fat; 85 grams carbohydrates; 15 grams protein; 1.08 grams fiber.