Chicken Machboos

Chicken Machboos

Chicken Machboos

This is the first Bahraini recipe on stonedsoup.net! Like I’ve said before, every country seems to have their own recipe for chicken and rice. Chicken machboos is the Bahraini version and happens to be the national dish. This complex recipe requires quite a bit of ingredients; some you might have to get at an Asian market or a specialty store like the dried limes and rosewater. Lots and lots of steps, but all are fairly easy and well worth the work. Another one pot dish by one pothead.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Bahraini
Keyword: Bahraini, Chicken, main course, rice, Western Asian
Servings: 4
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • Spice grinder

Ingredients

Baharat Spice Blend

  • 1 tbsp black peppercorns
  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp whole cloves
  • 1/4 tsp green cardamom seeds
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Chicken Machboos

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 3 lbs bone in chicken thighs
  • 3 tbsp ghee
  • 1 large white onion diced
  • 1 serrano pepper finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp ginger minced
  • 6 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tbsp baharat spice blend
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 roma tomatoes diced
  • 3 dried Persian limes holes poked in
  • 5 green cardamom pods
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/8 tsp ground cloves
  • 3 tsp salt
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • 2 cups basmati rice soaked for 15 minutes; washed and rinsed
  • 3 tbsp cilantro chopped
  • 3 tbsp parsley chopped
  • rosewater

Instructions

  • Dry toast the whole spices in a small sauté pan for 3 minutes. Add to a spice grinder and finely grind. Mix in the paprika and nutmeg. Set aside.
    Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
  • Heat up cooking oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add in the chicken thighs, skin side down.
    Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
  • Sear the thighs for 6 minutes a side. Remove from the pan.
    Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
  • Add the ghee to the sauté pan. Reduce the heat to medium and sauté the onions for 10 minutes.
    Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
  • Add in the ginger, garlic, and serrano. Sauté for 2 minutes.
    Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
  • Stir in the baharat spice blend and ground turmeric. Cook for 1 minute.
    Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
  • Place the chicken thighs back into the pan along with the dried limes, tomatoes, cardamom pods, cloves and cinnamon stick.
    Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
  • Pour in the chicken stock. Bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.
    Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
  • Carefully remove the chicken again. Stir in the rice, cilantro, parsley, and salt.
    Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
  • Return the chicken to the pan. Cover. Cook for 20 minutes until the rice has absorbed all of the liquid.
    Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
  • Remove the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods.
    Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
Bahraini, main course, chicken, rice
Plate the rice on a serving platter. Place the chicken thighs on top. Drizzle with rosewater.