pilaf

noun

pi·​laf pi-ˈläf 

-ˈlȯf;

ˈpē-ˌläf,

-ˌlȯf 

variants or less commonly pilaff

pi-ˈläf 

-ˈlȯf;

ˈpē-ˌläf,

-ˌlȯf

or pilau

pi-ˈlō  -ˈlȯ 

ˈpē-(ˌ)lō,

-ˌlȯ;

 Southern often  ˈpər-(ˌ)lü,

-(ˌ)lō

or pilaw

pi-ˈlō 

-ˈlȯ,

ˈpē-(ˌ)lō,

-ˌlȯ;

 Southern often  ˈpər-(ˌ)lü,

-(ˌ)lō

: a dish made of seasoned rice and often meat

Examples of pilaf in a Sentence

a serving of rice pilaf

Recent Examples on the Web

Dishes like a roast chicken presented over a spiced bulgar pilaf with raisins and chestnuts, or eggplants broiled tender with pomegranate and yogurt sauce demonstrate Roden’s expert mixing of traditional and modern. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 30 Jan. 2025

Sprinkle on top of pancakes instead of syrup Incorporate into grain dishes like rice pilaf or a quinoa salad. —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025

Get the recipe 20 of 27 Chicken Bog Somewhere between a stew and a pilaf, this cozy chicken and rice dish from the Lowcountry is like a hug in a bowl. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024

Tonight’s dinner is an easy sheet pan staple in our house: cherry tomatoes, chickpeas and feta roasted in the oven with olive oil and honey and served over rice pilaf. —R29 Team, refinery29.com, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Turkish & Persian; Turkish pilav, from Persian pilāv

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pilaf

noun

pi·​laf

variants also pilaff

pi-ˈläf  ˈpē-ˌläf 

or pilau

pi-ˈlō 

-ˈlȯ,

ˈpē-;

 Southern often  ˈpər-lü,

-lō

: a dish made of seasoned rice and often meat