Description
Hearty chicken kabsa celebrates Saudi Arabian culinary traditions with aromatic spices and tender meat. Fragrant rice and perfectly seasoned chicken create a delicious meal that brings comfort and excitement to the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 kg whole chicken, cut into 6 pieces
- 3 cups (750 ml) basmati rice, rinsed
- 2 tbsps oil or butter
- 3 onions, sliced
- 200 g (7 oz) canned diced tomatoes
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 green chili
- Salt to taste
- ¼ cup raisins
- ¼ cup slivered almonds (for garnish)
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 6 cloves
- 4 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- ½ tsp dried whole lime powder
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper
- ¼ tsp saffron
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- Water (as needed)
Instructions
- Spice Preparation: Create a robust kabsa spice blend by combining cardamom, white pepper, saffron, cinnamon, allspice, and lime powder in a mixing bowl. Set aside this aromatic mixture for later use.
- Aromatic Base: Heat vegetable oil in a cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Sauté onions, ginger, garlic, and green chili peppers until onions caramelize to a golden-brown hue. Introduce bay leaves, cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon stick, toasting briefly to release their essential oils.
- Flavor Layering: Incorporate tomato puree, nutmeg, black pepper, cumin, coriander, and the prepared kabsa spice mixture. Season with salt and create a rich, fragrant sauce by simmering for 2-3 minutes. Add carrots and fresh tomatoes, cooking until vegetables begin to soften.
- Chicken Preparation: Add chicken pieces to the pan, ensuring thorough browning on all sides. Cook for approximately 30 minutes, rotating periodically. Remove chicken temporarily and set aside.
- Rice Cooking: Rinse basmati rice thoroughly and return to the spice-infused pan. Scatter raisins throughout, pour in water, and season lightly. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, covering and simmering until rice reaches perfect tenderness.
- Final Grilling: Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Return chicken pieces, grilling for an additional 10-15 minutes to achieve a charred exterior and complete cooking.
- Plating and Garnish: Arrange warm rice as a base, positioning grilled chicken elegantly. Scatter slivered almonds and additional raisins on top for a decorative and flavorful finish.
Notes
- Spice Blend Mastery: Create the kabsa spice mix ahead of time for deeper, more integrated flavors that will permeate every bite of the dish.
- Caramelization is Key: Take extra care when browning onions and chicken to develop rich, complex flavor foundations that elevate the entire recipe.
- Rice Rinsing Technique: Thoroughly wash basmati rice until water runs clear to remove excess starch, ensuring fluffy, separated grains that don’t become sticky.
- Layered Aromatics Strategy: Toast whole spices briefly to unlock their essential oils and maximize the depth of flavor throughout the chicken and rice preparation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Saudi Arabian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg