Kabseh (Middle Eastern Rice Dish)
This right here is one of my favorite Middle Eastern rice dishes. I love the taste of the aromatic spices that goes into it. It is also so simple to make. Yes, every person may have their own way of making it. This is my Mama’s way and we all love it. Since, I am here visiting, I will be sharing recipes from my my Mama throughout the week.
Servings: 10 people
Total Time: approx. 2 hours
Ingredients
Chicken preparation
2 whole chickens cut into 8 pieces cleaned
1 onion cut into 4 pieces
3 garlic cloves
2 dried limes
2 stick of cinnamon
3 bay leaves
6 pieces of cardamon
1 whole tomato
Salt to taste
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp whole Gram Masala
Boiled Water to fill the pot
Rice preparation
5 cups rinsed Uncle Ben’s rice
10 cups homemade chicken stock
2 tbsp ground kabseh spice
6 oz can of tomato paste
Black pepper to taste
Salt to taste
2 tbsp ghee
Chicken Preparation part 2
1 tbsp garlic power
Salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp dried oregano
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp ground chicken spice
1 packet Sazon seasoning
1 fresh lemon’s juice
2 tbsp ketchup/tomato paste
1 tbsp barbecue sauce
Instructions
Clean the chicken to your liking. In a large pot, add all the above spices and cook for a few minutes till lightly browned.
Then add the chicken pieces to get a nice light brown. Then add the boiled water to cover the chicken completely. Let this cook for about 1 hour + till its cooked.
Take the chicken out from the water and place in a pan. Set aside. To that chicken stock, add tomato paste and mix.
In a separate pot, add the rice with the spices and ghee. Mix together on low heat for a few minutes then add the hot chicken stock from the chicken that was cooked prior.
Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Will take about 20-25 min to cook till all the liquid is absorbed.
While thats on the stove, to the chicken add the chicken mixture from part 2. Rub well into the chicken.
Bake chicken at 350 for 5 minutes to warm up and broil for 2 minutes till its a nice golden crisp color.
To plate, layer the rice with the chicken on top and garnish with toasted almonds/pine nuts.
Enjoy as is or with some plain yogurt and salad.
Where can we get the kabseh spice?
Hi, any Arabic grocery store should carry it in their spice section. I hope you find it! If you can’t find it, maybe try adding more gram masala spice.
I made this for Ramadan, and the recipe is so easy to follow and it’s so so so delicious!!! Thank you fufu
My pleasure, Gabbie!
This is such a lovely recipe. It smells divine and has become a firm favourite in our home.
Thank you for sharing
For ground chicken spice is there a particular brand you used?
No brand in particular. Whatever you find in your local arabic store is fine!
Omg this kebseh is to die for ❤️❤️❤️
thank you!
Where can I find Sazon seasoning?
And can I used seven spice instead of ground chicken spice
Yes, you can use that as a substitute in this case. Sazon is found in orange packages in almost every supermarket but definitely in the Hispanic section.
My husband and I only like chicken breast. How can we alter the recipe to cook only that instead of the whole chicken?
Hi Faten,
I would do just bone-in chicken breasts then.
My go-to kabseh recipe! It’s flavourful and easy to make, and turns out so lovely! I didn’t have the sazon seasoning as it isn’t popular in the UK it seems, but I found it on Amazon. The only mistake I made the first time was not to strain the chicken stock🤦♀️, but I have learnt since then 😁
I am so glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Made it last night and it came out delicious!