Kabsa Rice

Kabsa has a strong "Nostalgic" feeling for me. The specific aroma of Kabsa rice always brought me back to my childhood. Tabuk, Saudi Arabia is the place where I spent my childhood and early teen years. It feels really,really nostalgic.

Kabsa is regarded as a national dish of Saudi Arabia. It is usually made with rice and meat ( chicken, mutton, beef, lamb ), dry fruits/nuts along with authentic spices.

Ingredients :

1/4 cup Butter/Ghee /Oil 2 kg Chicken( large pieces) onion:1 chopped 8 pods garlic 1/4 cup tomato purée chopped 1 tomato  1 Dried black lime 2 grated carrots 2 Cloves 1 pinch nutmeg powder cumin 1/4 teasp 6 black pepper 4 cups hot water 1 Chicken cube 2 cup Basmati rice 10 -15 raisins 1 tbsp Kabsa spice mix Instructions :  Marinate the cleaned chicken pieces with kabsa spice mix and salt,keep it aside for 15 minutes. Heat oil/ghee in a pan, add chopped onions,garlic,green chillies and saute it. Add chicken pieces and saute it well. Add tomato puree,stir and cook on low flame for 2 minutes. Add tomato,carrots,cloves,dried lime,all the spices,black pepper and salt Cook for another 2 minute. Add the water and chicken cube.When it starts to boil,cover and cook it for 15 -20 minutes on low flame. Add the rice and stir carefully. Add raisins,again cover and cook it for another 15 minutes or until the rice is tender on low flame. Place the rice on a serving plate topped with chicken. Serve hot with green salads or home made tomato sauce 'Dakkous' or with a hot chili sauce called "Shattah".