Al Kabsa - Traditional Saudi Rice And Chicken

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• kabsa spice mix:
• 1/2 teaspoon saffron
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried whole lime powder
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
• 1/4 cup tomato puree
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 3 carrots, peeled and grated
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 1 pinch ground cumin
• 1 pinch ground coriander
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 3 1/4 cups hot water
• 1 cube chicken bouillon
• 2 1/4 cups unrinsed basmati rice
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds

Recipe

Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ready Time: 2 hrs 10 mins


• 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.