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Kabsa is the national dish of Saudi Arabia, a rich and aromatic one-pot meal featuring tender spiced chicken and fragrant basmati rice. Infused with warm spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, this dish has a deep, savory flavor with subtle sweetness from tomatoes, carrots, and optional raisins. The chicken is simmered until juicy, then layered over perfectly cooked saffron-infused rice, creating a hearty and satisfying meal.
Kabsa Saudi Chicken & Rice
Servings
4
servingsPrep time
1
hourCooking time
20
minutesCalories
700
kcalIngredients
1 whole chicken (about 3-4 lbs), cut into pieces
3 tbsp vegetable oil or ghee
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 carrots, grated
1 green bell pepper, chopped (optional)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cardamom
1 tsp cloves
1 bay leaf
Salt to taste
4 cups water or chicken broth
- For the Rice
2 cups basmati rice, soaked for 20 mins & drained
2 tbsp ghee or butter
1/2 tsp saffron (soaked in 2 tbsp warm water) (optional)
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional)
Directions
- Cooking the Chicken
Heat oil/ghee in a large pot over medium heat.
Add onions and sauté until golden.
Add garlic, tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, carrots, and bell pepper. Cook for 3-4 mins.
Add chicken pieces and brown lightly on all sides.
Add all spices (cumin, coriander, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaf, and salt). Stir well.
Pour in water or broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30-40 mins until chicken is tender. - Preparing the Rice
Remove chicken from the broth and set aside.
Strain the broth and measure 3.5 cups (add water if needed).
In the same pot, heat ghee, then add drained rice and sauté for 2 mins.
Pour in the reserved broth and saffron water. Stir, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low heat for 20 mins until rice is cooked. - Final Touches
While rice cooks, pan-fry the chicken in a little ghee until golden (optional).
Fluff rice with a fork, then top with chicken.
Garnish with fried raisins, almonds, and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Spice Adjustments: Kabsa spice mix (Baharat) can be used instead of individual spices.
- Rice Texture: For perfect rice, ensure the broth covers the rice by about 1 cm.
- Vegetarian Option: Replace chicken with mixed vegetables and use veggie broth.
Nutrition Facts
4 servings per container
- Amount Per ServingCalories700
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat
30g
47%
- Saturated Fat 8g 40%
- Trans Fat 0g
- Cholesterol 110mg 37%
- Sodium 600mg 25%
- Potassium 550mg 16%
- Total Carbohydrate
80g
27%
- Dietary Fiber 5g 20%
- Sugars 8g
- Protein 35g 70%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
