Kabse Arab Gulf Mix

A fragrant and iconic Arabian rice dish featuring tender chicken pieces cooked with long-grain basmati rice. Infused with a blend of aromatic spices including cardamom, cloves, and dried lime (Loomi), it is garnished with roasted nuts and raisins for a rich, celebratory meal.

🥄 Ingredients

• 2 kg chicken thighs and breasts or 2 kg cubed or bone-in beef, as desired
• 1 kg basmati rice
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 0.5 green bell pepper
• 1 red bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 0.5 cup frying oil
• 0.5 kg onions or 2 large onions
• 2 tablespoons seven-spice mix for Kabsa
• 1 tablespoon turmeric
• 10 cardamom pods
• 10 cloves
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 0.25 teaspoon saffron (if available)
• 4 cups beef or chicken broth

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Soak the basmati rice thoroughly beforehand.
2. Finely chop the onion and sauté it in oil until golden. Add the green and red bell peppers and cook until softened. Add all the spices, then the finely chopped tomatoes. Sauté for five minutes, then add a cup of beef or chicken broth. Let it simmer for 10 minutes over low heat until all the ingredients are well combined.
3. Cook the rice before mixing it with the vegetables: In a large pot of boiling water, drain the rice and add it to the boiling water along with salt and a little oil. Stir well and cover until almost cooked. Then mix it thoroughly with the vegetables so that the flavors are evenly distributed. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes, covering the pot with a towel or kitchen towel.
4. Boiling meat or chicken: The basic rule is the same for both. The most important element is to sauté onions in a little oil, then add the chicken or meat and stir for 5 minutes to soften it and retain its moisture. After that, add boiling water and continue cooking until done.
5. As I explained earlier, there are two methods for boiling meat or chicken in Kabsa. Some prefer to mix the meat or chicken with vegetables and then mix them with the rice, while others prefer to brown it in the oven after brushing it with lemon and olive oil.

🌹 Decoration

Garnish with slices of green and red pepper and cucumber pieces.