Have you ever tried the national dish of Kuwait? Chicken Majboos, A.K.A Kabsa in certain parts of the Middle East, is an aromatic dish featuring spicy rice and chicken served with herbs, Daqoos (a tomato garlic sauce), and cucumber raita.
I absolutely fell in love with this dish on my trip to Kuwait last year. The best part? The smokey, earthy flavors of the spices and the tartness of the dried black lemons! Although it will take you a good three hours to cook this at home, the results are worth the effort and time.
And not just Kuwait, you will find different variations of Chicken Majboos in different parts of the Middle East. It is a great comfort recipe and the entire Arabian Gulf region will vouch for it, if you don’t believe me!
So, I had to make this at home! Unlike Biryani, you don’t have to marinate the meat with yogurt and other spices. Moreover, the dish needs a slightly different mix of spices and herbs.
Additionally, you can try making this dish with seafood or red meat if you don’t like chicken. You can simply switch the chicken with any protein of your choice – just don’t forget to adjust the cooking timeline accordingly. For instance, it takes longer to cook red meat, and naturally, it will take more than 3 hours to make this with red meat.
My apologies – I thought I would take baby steps on this culinary adventure – but I was kinda wrong! I am here to play in the big leagues – and Chicken Majboos is my debut.
So, stay tuned as my first major culinary experience is about to unfold…
What Ingredients Do You Need For Chicken Majboos?
To make some very tasty Chicken Majboos, you will need certain spices and specific ingredients. In that context, here’s what I used for making this delicacy at home:
- Coriander.
- Cumin.
- Bay Leaf.
- Cloves.
- Cinnamon.
- Black Lime or Black Lemon.
- Cardamom Pods.
- Curry.
- Turmeric.
So, I’ve mentioned some spices that are very common in South Asian and Arabic recipes. You can easily get hold of these spices in Indian or Middle Eastern grocery stores. Just remember that you need to be specific with the spices, considering too much or too little will ruin the whole experience.
For instance, it is best to avoid adding extra cinnamon or cumin since both of these tend to get overwhelming for most taste buds. Also, you can consider using cinnamon sticks.
In addition, I have used chicken wings and drumsticks for this recipe. But you can use a whole chicken as well – it does not make a difference as to which chicken you are using. Also, you will need garlic and onion for this recipe. Instead of frying the onion and garlic, you add these directly when you boil the chicken.
Finally, a vital ingredient for making mouthwatering Kabsa or Machboos is good quality Basmati rice. You can also use good-quality long-grain rice, but I strongly recommend Basmati rice.
How To Make Chicken Majboos At Home?
So, let’s find out how to make Chicken Majboos at home:
- Start by adding water and chicken to a cooking pot. Now, let it boil – during this time, get rid of all the extra chicken fat.
- Once you have removed the extra fat, add garlic, onion, and spices to the pot. Now, let this mixture boil for 40 to 50 minutes. The point is to let it boil till the chicken becomes soft.
- Remove garlic, onion, and all solid ingredients from the water. Keep this chicken stock aside and add Basmati rice to the water. If there isn’t enough stock for the rice to cool, add extra water.
- Take another pan and add some oil to fry the boiled chicken until it has a golden brown and crispy texture.
- Once you are done cooking the rice, add the fried chicken and blend it together. Let it simmer for a few minutes and garnish with some parsley before serving.
- Serve this dish hot with a side of Cacik or Raita.
Making Chicken Majboos At Home? Tips For Perfection!
Here are some tips to make the perfect Chicken Majboos at home!
- If you don’t use Basmati rice, you can make this dish with good-quality long-grain rice.
- In case you don’t want to use chicken as a protein, then you can also use Beef, Shrimp, Fish, or Lamb.
- You can try leaving the skin of the chicken to keep it succulent. After roasting it, you can consider removing it.
- If you want to add veggies, then you can consider potatoes and carrots. But add them to the rice after adding the chicken.
- While frying the chicken, ensure that it turns golden. If it’s not golden, then it is possible that the chicken might not get cooked entirely.
- Ensure that the cooking pan you are using is large and heavy-bottomed. That way, the heat distribution will be good, ensuring that everything is cooked properly.
Nutritional Information About Chicken Majboos:
One serving of the delicious Chicken Majboos, one cup or approximately 240 grams, typically contains:
- Calories: 336 kcal.
- Fat: 9.6 grams.
- Protein: 19 grams.
- Carbohydrates: 43 grams.
The dish is an excellent blend of rice, chicken, and Indian spices. Also, it is a great source of carbohydrates (from the rice) and proteins (from the chicken). In addition, this dish will also contain dietary fiber if you add vegetables and increase its overall nutritional value.
Chicken Majboos is aromatic, flavorful, and very satisfying. It perfectly balanced different flavors with nutrition. The meat offers protein, the rice offers carbohydrates, and the veggies offer fiber – that does sound great, doesn’t it?
Bon Appétit!
I understand that you might think it is too much effort to prepare Chicken Majboos at home. It takes over 3 hours and too much effort. But it is so delicious that I feel it is worth the time, effort, and patience.
Moreover, there is more than one way to prepare this dish – some people roast the chicken instead of frying it. Then there are people who prefer preparing this dish with red meat instead of chicken. I have even come across variations that had seafood – to each their own.
Needless to say, this must-try dish is typically made to share – it’s not your one-pot comfort meal. Rather, it is made with the intention to share during special occasions and celebratory gatherings – doesn’t mean you can’t make it for dinner tomorrow!
Let me know how it goes!
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