Türkiye — Pilav

Tavuklu pilav is cooked rice topped with tender shredded chicken. In chickpea versions, the pulses among the rice add texture. Its simple appearance of pale rice and chicken does not make it less flavourful: the focus is on the rice's doneness and the meat's tenderness.

Serving chicken and rice in one portion makes this pilav suited to city dining. Rice grains should separate and the chicken should not turn into dry strands. When chickpeas are used, their tenderness should match the rice to bring the dish together.

In Türkiye, pilav is not the name of just one recipe. Divriği pilavı, for example, includes additions such as meat, chickpeas and raisins. Rather than seeing tavuklu pilav as a direct copy of Uzbek palov with zirvak, taste it as a combination of rice and separately cooked chicken.