Chicken Kabsa - Saudi Arabian Kabsa
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Saudi Arabian
Serves: 6 People
Ingredients
  • Oil- ⅓ cup
  • Onion, chopped- 2 cups
  • Grated ginger- ½ tsp
  • Chicken, bone-in pieces- 15 pieces (use large pieces)
  • Orange zest- ½ tbsp
  • Ground pepper- ½ tbsp
  • Ground cardamom- ½ tbsp
  • Ground cinnamon- ½ tsp
  • Ground cloves- ¼ tsp
  • Tomato paste- 1 tbsp
  • Tomato, chopped- 2 cups
  • Long grain rice or Kabsa rice- 1½ cups, soaked in water for 45 minutes
  • Shredded carrots- 1 cup
  • Salt- to taste
  • Water- 3½ cups
For topping Kabsa
  • Almonds, halved- ⅓ cup
  • Raisins- ⅓ cup
  • Oil- 2 tbsp
Instructions
  1. Place a large wide non-stick cooking pan over medium heat, add oil.
  2. Add onions and grated ginger, cook till onions turn brown.
  3. Add chicken pieces and saute for a few minutes.
  4. Add orange zest, ground pepper, ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, tomato paste, chopped tomatoes and salt.
  5. Combine well and cook for a few minutes till the oil rises on top.
  6. Now, add 3½ cups water and cook the chicken covered for 20 minutes.
  7. After the chicken has cooked, remove the chicken from the pan, place them on a baking pan and broil at high for 5 minutes or till the chicken turns brown. Be careful not to burn the chicken while broiling.
  8. If you don't have the broil in your oven, pan fry the chicken in a pan over stovetop.
  9. Taste and add more salt to the liquid left in the pan.
  10. Add the soaked rice to the liquid and the shredded carrots.
  11. Cover the pan tightly with a lid, cook till the rice has cooked well, about 20 to 25 minutes.
  12. If the liquid dries out and the rice hasn't cooked well-add more water accordingly and cook the rice further.
  13. While the rice is cooking, heat a frying pan over medium heat, add 2 tbsp oil.
  14. Add almonds to the oil, fry till light golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
  15. In the same oil, add the raisins & fry till it's puffed up, transfer to a plate.
  16. While serving: On a large platter, spread the rice first, top the rice with chicken and garnish with fried almonds and raisins.
  17. Enjoy!
Notes
This is a very mild dish, there is no spice to it but tastes flavorful.
I used long grain Kabsa rice, when cooked it still has that nice crunch.
You could use any kind of meat: lamb, goat, camel, beef etc.
I reduced the amount of carrot as I didn't want this dish to be sweet.
Recipe by Cooking with Thas - Smart Cooking, Smart Living at https://thasneen.com/cooking/chicken-kabsa-saudi-arabian-kabsa/