Description
Chicken Kabsa Recipe Arabic is a traditional one-pot Middle Eastern dish made with spiced grilled chicken, basmati rice, and a signature kabsa spice blend. Perfect for festive gatherings or hearty dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ kg whole chicken, cut into 6 pieces
- 3 cups basmati rice, rinsed
- 2 tbsp oil or butter
- 3 onions, sliced
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 green chili
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 6 cloves
- 4 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- 3 medium carrots, thinly sliced
- 200g canned diced tomatoes (or 3 fresh tomatoes, chopped)
- 2 chicken stock cubes
- ¼ cup raisins
- Salt to taste
- Raisins and slivered almonds for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the kabsa spice mix (¼ tsp cardamom, ¼ tsp white pepper, ¼ tsp saffron, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp allspice, ½ tsp dried lime powder) and set aside.
- Heat oil in a large pot. Sauté onions, ginger, garlic, and green chili until golden.
- Add bay leaves, cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon stick. Fry briefly.
- Stir in tomato purée, nutmeg, black pepper, cumin, coriander, and kabsa spice mix. Add carrots and diced tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Add chicken and stock cubes. Brown chicken for about 30 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Add rice and raisins to the pot. Pour in 4 cups of water. Season with salt, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 10–15 minutes.
- Grill the chicken for 10–15 minutes until crisp and cooked through.
- Serve rice on a platter, top with grilled chicken, and garnish with almonds and more raisins.
Notes
- Start with 3 cups of water and add more only if needed.
- Dried lime powder is available at Middle Eastern grocery stores.
- Use fresh spices for the most authentic flavor.
- Grilling the chicken after browning gives it a crisp texture and enhances taste.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 2 hrs
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pot & Grilling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 731 mg
- Fat: 53 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 32 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 86 g
- Cholesterol: 269 mg
Keywords: Chicken Kabsa Recipe Arabic, Arabic Chicken Kabsa, Traditional Chicken Kabsa, Saudi Chicken Kabsa, Middle Eastern Chicken Kabsa, Kabsa with Chicken, Arabian Chicken Rice