The Pot of Cultures

Today Im going to talk about a dish called Al Kabsa. I chose to talk about this because no one really does talk about Saudi Arabian food Im not going to lie I would like to know more about them. Don't worry that is why I'm here to tell you about everything about this delicious food. Kabsa is there national dish because it is the perfect representation of all Arabic cuisine because there is the sweetness of all the nuts added and the spice of all Arabian spice like saffron is one of them. It's also to express it is a big events like wedding, anniversary and birthdays or religious holiday like Eid. If you have not try this yet you are missing out and if you want to try it here it is.

Ingredient for Al Kabsa:

Those are the spices

1/4 tsp ground cardamom (cardamom powder)

1/4 tsp ground white pepper (white pepper powder)

1/4 tsp saffron

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (cinnamon powder)

1/2 tsp ground all spice

1/2 tsp dried whole lime powder

How to make the chicken

2 tbsp oil or butter

3 onions, sliced

1 tbsp minced ginger (ginger paste)

1 tbsp minced garlic (garlic paste)

1 green chili

2 dried bay leaves

6 cloves

4 cardamom pods

1 cinnamon stick

2 tbsp tomato puree (tomato paste)

1 pinch ground nutmeg (nutmeg powder)

1/2 tsp ground black pepper (black pepper powder)

1/4 tsp ground cumin (cumin powder)

1/2 tsp ground coriander (coriander powder)

3 medium carrots, thinly sliced

200 g canned diced tomatoes (or 3 tomatoes chopped)

2 chicken stock cubes

1 1/2 kg whole chicken, cut into 6 pieces

3 cups basmati rice, rinsed

1/4 cup raisins

Water

Salt to taste

Raisins, to garnish (optional)

Slivered almonds, to garnish (optional)

Step to make it:

To make kabsa spice mix, combine together cardamom, white pepper, saffron, cinnamon, all spice and lime powder in a bowl. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large heavy bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, ginger, garlic and green chilies. Sauté for 2-3 minutes or until the onions turn golden brown. Add bay leaves, cloves, cardamom pods and cinnamon stick. Fry for a minute.

Stir in tomato purée. Add ground nutmeg, ground black pepper, ground cumin, ground coriander and kabsa spice. Season with salt. Fry the spices for a minute. Add carrots and diced tomatoes. Stir, and cook for 2 minutes.

Add chicken cubes and chicken pieces. Brown chicken, turning occasionally, for about 30 minutes. Remove the chicken pieces from the pan. Set aside.

Add rice and raisins. Pour in 4 cups water. Season with salt. Bring it to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover with lid, and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Preheat grill. Grill chicken for 10-15 minutes or until cooked through. Serve rice with grilled chicken.

FYI: - For rice, start with 3 cups of water, and then add more if needed. - Whole lime powder is available in Middle Eastern grocery stores.

If you don't want to break your head for the spices you can always find Kabsa spice mix at your local Middle eastern grocery stores.

Today, I am going to talk about this national dish Ilish mass and rice. It is the national dish of Bangladesh. You might wonder why they eat this dish. In Bangladesh there is a New Year but not at same as the western one. Bangladesh is a Muslim and Hindu country so there new year is more toward the spring time it's bit like Chinese new year but us a place we celebrate the fact is winter is ending and spring is starting which we call it Falgun. To make this recipe you will need these ingredient.

Illish mass: rice:

1 the fish illish mass - 1 cup of basmati rice

2 tsp turmeric - 2 cups of water.

2 tsp cumin

2 onions

2 tsp cayenne

2 tsp oil

2 tsp salt

1 tsp of garlic paste

1 tsp of ginger paste

steps to illish mass:

Clean your fish

then take a bowl put your fish in it

In the bowl add all the spices needed and the pastes mix them

Then put in the fridge for 30 mins

Cut your onions

Take a pan and put your pan on the stove and add some oil

Then trow in your onions when your oil is really hot.

Fry them for a few minutes

Then add your fish in this and fry it for a good 15 min.

Rice steps :

wash your rice 3x or more it has to be clear

then fill you pot with water only halfway

Put your rice on the stove for 25 until it boils and then drain.