CHICKEN KABSA 

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Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time2 hours

Total Time2 hours 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS

KABSA SPICE MIX:

• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom (cardamom powder)
• 1/4 tsp ground white pepper (white pepper powder)
• 1/4 tsp saffron
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (cinnamon powder)
• 1/2 tsp ground all spice
• 1/2 tsp dried whole lime powder

CHICKEN KABSA:

• 2 tbsp oil or butter
• 3 onions, sliced
• 1 tbsp minced ginger (ginger paste)
• 1 tbsp minced garlic (garlic paste)
• 1 green chili
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 6 cloves
• 4 cardamom pods
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 tbsp tomato puree (tomato paste)
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg (nutmeg powder)
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper (black pepper powder)
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin (cumin powder)
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander (coriander powder)
• 3 medium carrots, thinly sliced
• 200 g canned diced tomatoes (or 3 tomatoes chopped)
• 2 chicken stock cubes
• 1 1/2 kg whole chicken, cut into 6 pieces
• 3 cups basmati rice, rinsed
• 1/4 cup raisins
• Water
• Salt to taste
• Raisins, to garnish (optional)
• Slivered almonds, to garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To make kabsa spice mix, combine together cardamom, white pepper, saffron, cinnamon, all spice and lime powder in a bowl. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a large heavy bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, ginger, garlic and green chilies. Sauté for 2-3 minutes or until the onions turn golden brown. Add bay leaves, cloves, cardamom pods and cinnamon stick. Fry for a minute.
3. Stir in tomato purée. Add ground nutmeg, ground black pepper, ground cumin, ground coriander and kabsa spice. Season with salt. Fry the spices for a minute. Add carrots and diced tomatoes. Stir, and cook for 2 minutes.
4. Add chicken cubes and chicken pieces. Brown chicken, turning occasionally, for about 30 minutes. Remove the chicken pieces from the pan. Set aside.
5. Add rice and raisins. Pour in 4 cups water. Season with salt. Bring it to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover with lid, and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
6. Preheat grill. Grill chicken for 10-15 minutes or until cooked through. Serve rice with grilled chicken.

NOTES

– For rice, start with 3 cups of water, and then add more if needed.
– Whole lime powder is available in Middle Eastern grocery stores
– Kabsa spice mix recipe adapted from allrecipes.com

 

Arabic Fattoush Salad

Fattoush is one of the most well known Middle Eastern salads and a standard dish on the ‘mezza’ (small dishes) table. It’s a colorful tossed salad with a lemony garlic dressing, and if you’ve never made a single Arabic dish, this is a delicious and healthy place to start.

Prep: 25 mins                 Cook:  5 mins Total:  30 mins  Servings: 4

 

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil for frying
• 2 small (4 inch) pita breads, torn into pieces
• 1 large English cucumber, finely diced
• 3 cups halved grape tomatoes
• ½ red onion, finely diced
• ¾ cup chopped Italian parsley
• ¾ cup chopped fresh mint
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground sumac, or to taste
• 1 clove garlic, crushed (or more to taste)
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 ounce sheep’s milk feta cheese

Directions

• Step 1

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place pita pieces into the skillet without crowding. Fry in batches until golden brown and blot dry with paper towels.

• Step 2

Combine cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, parsley, mint, olive oil, lemon juice, sumac, garlic, salt, and ground black pepper in a bowl. Gently toss salad with fried pita pieces. Grate feta cheese on top using a small cheese grater.