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kabsa (saudi rice & chicken)

kpetree avatar
Recipe by
Karen Petree
@kpetree
St. Joseph, MO

I had the privilege of experiencing this dish in 1979 when my Saudi neighbors invited me over for dinner. They had a spread of their native foods on newspapers on their living room floor and ate the rice with their fingers. Not knowing the proper spelling of the dish made it nearly impossible to find a recipe on the internet all these years later. I have fixed this using many variations and have yet to experience any level disappointment.

yield 8 -10
prep time 30 Min
cook time 1 Hr 15 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For kabsa (saudi rice & chicken)

  • KABSA DISH
  • 1/4 c
    butter
  • 3 lb
    chicken (thighs)
  • 1 lg
    onion, finely chopped
  • 6 clove
    garlic, minced
  • 1/4 c
    tomato puree
  • 14 oz
    canned chopped tomatoes, un-drained (or fresh)
  • 3
    carrots, grated
  • 2
    whole cloves
  • 1 pinch
    grated nutmeg
  • 1 pinch
    ground cumin
  • 1 pinch
    ground coriander
  • salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 c
    hot water
  • 1
    maggi (chicken bouillon) cube
  • 2 1/4 c
    basmati rice (don't rinse or soak this)
  • 1/4 c
    raisins (optional)
  • 1/4 c
    slivered almonds, toasted

How To Make kabsa (saudi rice & chicken)

  • 1
    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.
  • 2
    Add tomatoes, carrots, cloves, all the spices & salt and pepper. Cook for a couple of minutes. Add the water & Maggi cube.
  • 3
    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).
  • 4
    Re-Cover & simmer for 35 - 40 minutes - adding the raisins for the last 10 minutes - or until rice is tender.
  • 5
    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'.
  • 6
    (You can also 'finish' the chicken pieces off in the oven by cooking them for 25 - 30 minutes at 350 degrees whilst the rice is cooking. (but don't let them become dry)
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!

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