Kabsa Recipe (Chicken Kabsa Rice Recipe)

• 3 cups Basmati Rice
• 1½ kg Whole Chicken (Bone-in, Skin-on)

For Chicken Kabsa Base

• ½ cup Sunflower Oil
• 3 large Onion (peeled & sliced thinly (around 750 grams))
• 3 tbsp Garlic (peeled & chopped finely)
• 4 large Tomatoes (chopped finely)
• 5 tbsp Baharat Spice Blend
• ¼ cup Tomato paste
• 2 tbsp Orange Zest
• Salt (to taste)
• 4½ cup Water

For Sauteing Carrots

• 2 tbsp Ghee
• 1 large Carrot (grated)

Whole Spices

• 1 stick Cinnamon
• 2 no Bay Leaf
• 4 no Cardamom pods
• 4 no Cloves
• 2 no Dried Lime

For Garnishing

• 4 tbsp Ghee
• ½ cup Almonds
• ¼ cup Golden Raisins

1. 1

   Pre-preparation - Wash and soak basmati rice for 1 hour. Soak almonds in hot water, we will be using it for garnish.

2. 2

   Make Kabsa Stock - Heat a large pan with oil. Add in onions, garlic and salt. Saute for 2 mins or so. Now add in chicken skin side down and sear it for 10 mins on each side.

3. 3

   Add in tomatoes, baharat, tomato puree, whole spices, orange zest, dried lemon if using and mix well. Now add in water and mix well. Bring it to a boil, cover and simmer for 30 to 40 mins till the chicken is cooked completely. Remove the chicken and set aside.

4. 4

   Sauteing Carrots - Heat some 2 tblspn ghee in a pan, add in carrots and saute it for 5 mins. Set this aside.

5. 5

   Cooking Rice - Now add the drained basmati rice into the liquid, Add in sauted carrots and mix well. Cook on high heat till everything comes to a boil. Now cover with a tight lid or a foil and a lid and simmer it for 20 to 30 mins till the rice has absorbed all the liquid. Once the rice is cooked, Fluff it with a fork. Cover and set aside for 30 mins.

6. 6

   Grilling Chicken - Now preheat oven to 250 degree C. Set oven to grill or broil mode. Line a baking tray with foil and grease it well with oil.

7. 7

   Now take the cooked chicken and arrange it skin side up on a baking tray. Sprinkle the top with some more baharat and drizzle some oil over it and pop it into the oven and grill for 5 mins or so till the skin is crispy.

8. 8

   Make Garnish - Now peel off the almonds and slice it. heat some ghee in a pan, add in almonds and fry till golden. Add in raisins and saute till golden.

9. 9

   Serving Kabsa - Spoon rice onto a serving plate, place the broiled chicken on top of rice and sprinkle with nuts. Serve.