Chicken Machbous

CHICKEN MACHBOOS

(MACHBOOS DIJAJ)

Machboos   makbūs/machbūs (مكبوس/مچبوس Gulf pron.: [mɑtʃˈbuːs]) is a   dish  made with rice and meat. It can often be found served in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, southern Iraq, Ahwaz (Iran) and the Negev desert in Israel.

Rice is cooked in Chicken stock and flavoured with saffron, rose water and orange blossom water.

Ingredients

For Chicken

800-900g Chicken cut in half or into 4 pieces

(With or without skin)

Ginger garlic paste

Salt 

Pepper

Garam Masala

Turmeric powder

Dried lime powder

Chilli powder

Cumin(optional)

Olive oil(or any flavourless oil)

Tomato paste(optional)

Marinate the chicken with ginger, garlic, salt, pepper garam masala, turmeric, lime powder, chilli powder and cumin.

In a pan add olive oil and chicken add some boiling water(optional) cover and cook on low flame till done. 20 minutes.

Take out the chicken and brush with tomato paste and olive oil and grill or shallow fry in a pan.

Save the chicken stock to cook rice.

Rice

2 cup basmati rice soaked for 30 minutes

Olive oil

Bay leaf

Cloves

Cinnamon sticks

Cardamom

Dried lime(optional)

1 Onion slices

3.5 to 4 cups chicken Stock + boiling water

Salt

Pepper

Garam Masala

Dried lime powder

Turmeric

Garlic powder and onion powder(or use 1/2 chicken cube)

Saffron

Rose water

Orange blossom water

In the same pan in which chicken is cooked add olive oil and dry spices- bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, prick and add dried lime(if using)

Add in onions and sauté

Add salt for onion

Add the rice and sauté for a minute

Add in stock and water

Adjust salt and spices

Bring to boil. Simmer, cover and cook till done. 15 minutes.

Add saffron soaked in rose and orange blossom water.

Garnish

Ghee or oil to fry

Onion

Cooked chana Dal

Raisins

Fry onion, Dal and raisins in ghee or oil separately and keep aside

To serve mix and add the rice into serving bowl. Place grilled chicken on top. Garnish with onion, Dal and raisins fried in ghee.

Recipe Video:

Serve with Dakkous. Tomato sauce for Arabic rice.

Dakkous

Cook 3 tomatoes and 3-4 garlic cloves in olive oil. Let it cool.Blend. Add back in pan , add some water (3/4-1cup). Add salt, chilli powder, dried lime powder. boil for few minutes.

Recipe Video: