Chicken Majboos

 By Arifa K

Majboos is a traditional Arabian Rice dish incorporating fish or meats. Similar to Saudi Kabsa, this is a Bahraini dish that is popular in the gulf countries. It is not like a biriyani but a lovely aromatic Rice Preparation. Try this delicious, aromatic Chicken Majboos.

Chicken Majboos

Ingredients:

• 1 kg good chicken large pieces
• ½ Tbsp Coriander powder
• ½ Tbsp garam masala or baharat
• pepper to taste
• mild chili powder /paprika to sprinkle
• 4 cups rice – kaima or basmati
• 8 large tomatoes, 3 of which are for decoration – use nice plump RED tomatoes( Roma Tomatoes are good)
• 1 cup garlic, crushed
• 5 large onions, chopped finely
• 2 tbsp ketchup or 3 tsp tomato paste
• 8 cloves
• 6 cardamom pods
• 2 small sticks cinnamon
• 2 tsp lime juice
• ¼ tsp white pepper powder
• ¼ cup green chili, chopped – optional

For marinade

• 1½ Tbsp black pepper powder
• 1½ olive oil
• 1½ garlic, crushed finely
• 3 tbsp lime juice

Method:

• Marinate chicken. Rub the ingredients for the marinade and rub well into the chicken.
• Place in fridge for 2 hours. Place outside at room temperature 20 minutes before starting to cook.
• Rinse the rice throughly. Soak for 5 minutes and drain.
• Preheat oven 175ºc.
• Heat oil in a pot.
• Add garlic and onion. Sauté till color changes  to light brown.
• Next, add coriander powder & garam masala or baharat spices as well as pepper to taste.
• Add diced tomato.  Cook well.  Also add 2 tbsp ketchup or tomato paste.
• Allow to cool. Then grind to a paste using a small mixer grinder.
• Return the ground paste to the pot.
• Add chicken and salt to taste and enough water to cook chicken.
• Wash out the mixer/blender and add this liquid.
• Cook covered till chicken is tender.
• Remove chicken from the gravy and set aside on baking tray.
• Sprinkle mild chili powder on the chicken pieces.
• Grill/ broil the chicken for 10 minutes, basting after 5 minutes with butter or olive oil. (Place on top rack of oven to broil).
• Measure the broth left in the pot.  Add enough water to make  exactly 8 cups . Set aside.
• Add 1 tsp oil to the cleaned out pot. Heat and add cloves, cinnamon and cardamom. Allow to emit aroma.
• Return the measured stock. Bring to a boil
• Add rice, 2 tsp lime juice and the white pepper powder.
• Cook covered on low heat till all the water is absorbed by the rice and the rice is cooked. Turn off heat.
• Cut the garnishing tomato into flower shaped and place on top of the cooked rice.
• Cover the pot for 10 minutes, allowing the tomato to sweat in the steam of the pot.
• Move to serving plate, placing tomatoes on top.
• Also garnish with boiled eggs, herbs, onions and toasted pine nuts as desired.

Chicken Majboos

Did you enjoy our Chicken Majboos

Notes: