World Flavors Cookbook

Kabsa

The Arabian Peninsula's beloved spiced rice and meat dish — basmati rice cooked with a fragrant blend of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and tomatoes, topped with roasted chicken or lamb.

Cuisine: Iraq

Ingredients

• 2 cups basmati rice, soaked
• 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
• 2 onions, diced
• 3 tomatoes, diced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• Kabsa spice: cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black lime
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 dried lime (loomi)
• 3 tbsp ghee
• Raisins, almonds, salt

Instructions

1. Brown chicken in ghee. Remove and set aside.
2. Sauté onions until golden. Add garlic, tomato paste, and fresh tomatoes.
3. Add kabsa spices and dried lime. Cook 2 minutes.
4. Add chicken back with enough water to cook rice. Bring to boil.
5. Add drained rice. Cook covered on low heat until rice absorbs all liquid.
6. Garnish with fried almonds and raisins.