Kabseh Recipes

KABSA ARABIAN RICE

Steps:

• Marinate the rinsed and drained chicken with coriander powder, chilli powder and black pepper powder (optionally you can add 2 Tbsp ginger-garlic paste to this). Set aside while other ingredients are prepped.
• Combine the spice powders together for the Baharat (Spice Mix). And set aside the additional whole spices if you would like more spice.
• Chop the onion, garlic, and tomatoes.
• Heat the oil/butter in a medium pan (pan1) and saute the onion and garlic till softened. Add ginger if using.
• Saute, adding some salt to draw out moisture.
• Simultaneously: In another pan (pan2), heat some butter and fry the marinated chicken, just till crust is a pale golden color on both sides.
• When the onions in (pan1 ) are nicely sautéed: (soft and golden), add the chopped tomatoes as well as tomato paste and cook till all moisture evaporates (The tomatoes are reduced to a pulp).
• Add the Bahar/ Baharat spices (powdered), reserving some of the chilli flakes/powder for later.
• Also, add the dried lime (loomi). Stir well.
• Transfer the sauteed onion mixture from ( pan1) to a larger pot (pot1), (rice cooker pot is good).
• Remove the golden chicken pieces from (pan2) (reserving the butter/oil in the pan used for frying the chicken for later.
• Add these chicken pieces to (pot 1), over the sauteed onion mixture and continue cooking just for a minute, stirring gently till the chicken is nicely coated with the sauteed ingredients.
• When the oil separates, add salt and stock(or water).
• Bring to boil. Cover (pot1) with a lid, and cook for 10 minutes for chicken without skin / 20 minutes for chicken with skin. (Also Preheat oven to 180º C, now).
• Remove the chicken pieces and two large ladles of the stock from (pot1) to the pan previously used for sautéing the onions (pan1).
• (Pan1): Heat the chicken with this small amount of gravy, till the gravy evaporates, forming a thick sauce around the chicken (only 1-minute max - on high heat). You may like to add more tomato paste at this point if you like the flavor. Place the chicken pieces on baking tray.
• Broil the chicken pieces in the preheated oven for 10 minutes at around 180º C. Baste with a tiny bit of butter. The skin should get a golden and crisp (not applicable for skinless chicken).
• Reheat the butter left from frying the chicken in (pan 2). Fry the drained rice in this briefly, stirring to coat the grains evenly. (Add the whole spices under the Baharat spice mix to this rice if you would like to flavor the rice further - optional).
• Add the rice to the pot of simmering gravy (pot1). Cover and cook till done (water runs dry).
• Immediately, fluff up the rice with a fork, adding a little butter if desired.
• Squeeze a little lemon juice on the broiled chicken pieces.
• Top the fragrant rice with the broiled chicken, boiled eggs, coriander or parsley leaves, lime wedges and toasted nuts and raisins - as desired.

AL KABSA - TRADITIONAL SAUDI RICE (& CHICKEN) DISH

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large stock pot, casserole or dutch oven. Add chicken pieces, onion & garlic & sauté until onion is tender. Stir in tomato puree & simmer over a low heat for a couple of minutes.
• Add tomatoes, carrots, cloves, all the spices & salt and pepper. Cook for a couple of minutes. Add the water & Maggi cube.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Add rice to the pot & stir carefully. (if you're wanting to brown the chicken in the oven - remove it from the pot now & place in the preheated oven).
• Re-Cover & simmer for 35 - 40 minutes - adding the raisins for the last 10 minutes - or until rice is tender.
• Place the rice on a large serving dish, topped with the chicken & garnished with almonds. Serve with a fresh mixed salad - preferably with a little lime vinaigrette. Saudis like their Kabsa with a hot sauce called 'Shattah'.
• N.B: You can also 'finish' the chicken pieces off in the oven by cooking them for 25 - 30 minutes at 180 C whilst the rice is cooking. (but don't let them become dry).

AL KABSA - TRADITIONAL SAUDI RICE AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix together the saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, allspice, white pepper, and lime powder in a small bowl, and set the spice mix aside.
• Melt the butter in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken pieces and brown them over medium-high heat until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Mix in the tomato puree.
• Stir in the canned tomatoes with their juice, the grated carrots, whole cloves, nutmeg, cumin, coriander, salt, black pepper, and the Kabsa spice mix. Cook for about 3 minutes; pour in the water, and add the chicken bouillon cube.
• Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer and cover the pot. Simmer until chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes.
• Gently stir in the rice. Cover the pot and simmer until rice is tender and almost dry, about 25 minutes; add the raisins and a little more hot water, if necessary. Cover and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until the rice grains are separate.
• Transfer the rice to a large serving platter and arrange the chicken pieces on top. Sprinkle the toasted slivered almonds over the dish.

KABSA

Steps:

• Place chicken thighs, drumsticks, and breasts into a large pan and pour in 6 cups water; stir in 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup chopped onion, bay leaves, and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until chicken is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove chicken, strain the broth, and retain 4 cups of broth.
• While chicken is simmering, rinse basmati rice thoroughly until water runs clear. Place into a bowl and mix in 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, cardamom pods, whole cloves, nutmeg, baharat spice mix, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and black pepper. Let the rice sit while you complete remaining steps.
• Soak golden raisins with 1/3 cup water in a small bowl. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon butter in a large pan. Cook and stir 2 cups onion with tomatoes until vegetables soften, about 10 minutes. Mix in the seasoned rice and cook until rice grains are hot, 2 to 3 minutes; pour in reserved 4 cups of chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Mix in soaked golden raisins. Place 3 tablespoons butter into the pan, let melt, and turn heat to low; simmer covered until rice is tender, about 45 minutes.
• Tear chicken meat off the bones into bite-size pieces. Spread the rice onto a large serving platter and distribute cooked chicken over the rice to serve.

CLASSIC ARABIAN KABSA SPICE MIX FROM THE SPICE ROUTE

Steps:

• Grind all the whole spices and saffron threads together, then add the promegranate powder, mix well. (If using the dried limes, add them to the intial grinding procedure.).
• Decant into an airtight tin or container and store in a dark, cool and dry place.

SAUDI KABSA CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Soak rice in water (room temperature)
• Cut up the onion into thin slices and add to a big pot, with the canola or vegetable oil. Saute on medium high heat for about 12 minutes, or until golden and translucent.
• Add the chicken to the pot, and cook for a few minutes, then add all the spices, the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and orange zest. Give it all a stir.
• Add the boiling water to the pot, and leave it to boil on medium heat for 25 minutes.
• After 25 minutes, drain the rice. Remove the chicken from the pot, and place it in a pan or a baking sheet, and broil in the oven on low for about 8 minutes.
• Add the rice to the pot with the chicken stock and all the spices.Give it one quick stir, and place it on low heat for about 25 minutes. Do not stir the rice while it's cooking until all the water has evaporated.
• While the rice is cooking, toast the almonds using oil in a fry pan.
• To assemble and serve. Plate the rice in a serving plate, place the chicken pieces on top, and garnish with toasted almonds.

KABSA SPICE MIX

Steps:

• Measure and add the ingredients from Coriander seeds to White pepper to a non-stick pan.
• Toast these spices while stirring on medium heat for3-4 minutes. Make sure there is no darkening of the spices. It should be very fragrant between 3 and 4 minutes.
• Add to a dry spice grinder. Add the remaining ingredients (paprika, stone flower, ground ginger and turmeric powder) to this mix while still hot. These spices are not toasted as it tends to change the aroma of the spice mix. However, they should be added to the other toasted spices while they are still hot, to help release the natural aroma better.
• Grind to a fine powder. Allow Kabsa Spice Mix to cool and store in a small glass jar.

CHICKEN KABSA RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400ºF (200ºC).
• Place chicken pieces in a bowl, using your hands rub chicken with vegetable oil until well covered. Place on a try and bake for 30 minutes.
• Mix all spices and salt in a small bowl.
• Rinse the rice in a sieve with running water until water runs clear.
• Meanwhile melt butter in a pan, saute onions, and garlic until translucent and soft. Add diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Create sauce.
• Add the chicken and stir until well coated with the tomato sauce.
• Add rice and spices. Mix well.
• Add chicken broth, and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover loosely, leaving a gap for steam to escape.
• Cook for roughly 20 minutes until you have cooked the rice.
• Toast slivered almonds in a pan over medium high heat until browned.
• Spoon rice onto a serving dish placing the chicken pieces on top. Sprinkle with browned almonds, raisins, and a pinch of black pepper.
• Add more salt and pepper to taste.

CHICKEN KABSA

Steps:

• Make the lemon yogurt sauce: In a medium bowl, stir to combine yogurt, lemon zest and juice, parsley, and cayenne. Season with salt; set aside.
• Make the chicken: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large high-sided saute pan or Dutch oven over medium-high. Working in batches, cook chicken, turning, until golden and crisp on all sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Reduce heat to medium and stir in onion, garlic, ginger, carrot, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, orange zest and juice, stock, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and bay leaves and bring to a simmer.
• Place browned chicken, skin-side up, in simmering liquid and transfer to oven for 25 minutes.
• Remove chicken from cooking liquid and place on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Reserve pan with cooking liquid. Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees and transfer chicken to oven until cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes.
• To prepare the rice, heat pan with reserved cooking liquid over medium and bring to a simmer. Stir in rice, cover, and cook at a low simmer until rice is tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and fluff with a fork to combine.
• Heat safflower oil in a small heavy-bottomed pot until a deep-fry thermometer reads 325 degrees. Add almonds and cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towel-lined plate to drain. Add raisins to pot and cook until puffed, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper-towel lined plate to drain.
• To serve, spoon rice onto a serving platter and top with chicken. Sprinkle with fried almonds and raisins, garnish with parsley, and serve with lemon yogurt sauce.

KABSEH RICE

Steps:

• Wash the rice thoroughly until water runs clear then drain, add a pinch of salt and the turmeric and cover by about an inch of hot water. Let soak for 1 hr. Drain and set aside. In a medium size heavy pot, add the oil and melt the butter on medium heat until the butter stops bubbling. Add the onions, the garlic and a pinch of salt and sauté until the onions turn translucent and the garlic is fragrant. Stir in the bay leaf, the carrots and the peas and heat for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the spices and sauté for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and sauté for another minute. Add the water slowly until the tomato paste is dissolved. Add the soy sauce and salt to taste, cover, turn the temperature to high and bring to the boil. Add the rice to the sauce, toss and bring the mixture to the boil (the surface has to bubble vigorously). Cover the pot and turn the temperature to very low. Let it steam for 20 minutes. Never remove the lid during the steaming process, no matter how strong the temptation is. Remove the cover and gently stir in the raisins using a fork. Plate and top with the toasted almonds and the chopped parsley. (make sure to take out the bay leaf, the cardamom and cloves before serving) Note: I usually serve this as a side dish with succulent lamb shanks or chicken, and a nice lemony green salad.

KABSEH

Steps:

• - Sprinkle lamb with salt and brown on all sides. Set aside. - in the same pot add 1 tbsp of butter. Once bubbles reside, add onions and brown. - Add chopped tomatoes and stir for a minute. - Add cardimom, bay leaves, cinnamon and stir fry for a minute. - Add tomato paste and stir fry for 3 minutes. - Add lamb pieces and stir mix. - Add water, stir and bring to the boil. Cover and cook for 1hr 15mins. - Add Kabseh Spice and let simmer for another 5 minutes. - Rinse soaked rice, strain and add to lamb. Bring to the boil then cover and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes. - Voila!