Machbous Sauce Recipes

TRADITIONAL BAHRAINI CHICKEN MACHBOOS / MACHBOUS

Steps:

• Cut the chicken in half. Heat the water and leave aside. In a small bowl, mix the buharat, turmeric, cumin, and cardamom together and add to the mixture one teaspoon of salt. Sprinkle half of the spice mixture on the chicken halves.
• Heat oil in a large cooking pan, fry the onions until golden brown, then add to the pepper and the black limes - you MUST make a hole in each limes.
• Add the chicken to the onion mixture and turn it over a few times in the pan. Sprinkle on the chicken a teaspoon of cinnamon and the rest of the mixed spices. Turn the contents all together so the chicken is coated with the spices, cover the pan and let it cook on medium heat for 3 minutes.
• Add the garlic, chopped ginger, and tomato cubes to the pan and turn the ingredients in the pan a few times. Cover again for 3 minutes on medium heat. Sprinkle with the rest of the salt and pour on it water while its still hot.
• Cover the pan and let it cook for about 1 hour, or until the chicken is cooked. Add the copped coriander 5 minutes before you remove the chicken from the stock in the pan. While the chicken is cooking, wash the rice well and soak for 10 minutes in cold water, then drain.
• Remove the chicken from the pan and put on an oven tray, brush with some oil and sprinkle with the rest of the cinnamon powder and grill in the oven until the chicken is golden brown.
• Add the rice to the chicken stock, stir, then let it cook on low heat until the rice absorbs the stock and is almost done.
• Sprinkle rose water and lemon juice over the rice and place the butter pieces on the top. Cover the pan and cook on low heat for 30 minutes.
• Serve the rice on a large serving plate and place the grilled chicken halves on the top.

CHICKEN MACHBOOS (SAUDI ARABIAN KABSA)

Steps:

• Start by preheating the oven to 400F
• Finely dice the onion and crush the garlic
• To a large non-stick pot, add the oil and heat for 1 minute. Then add the onions and cook for 5 minutes until slightly softened
• Add the whole spices (cinnamon, cardamom, dry lime, and bay leaves) along with the crushed garlic and cook for a further 5 minutes
• Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, using a wooden spoon to smear the paste on the bottom of the pan and caramalize it
• Add the ground spices (salt, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and allspice) as well as the tomato sauce and 1 cup of water. Allow to simmer for 3 minutes
• Add the washed chicken legs and cover them in the sauce mixture. Cover the pot and allow to cook for 20 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through
• Wash and rinse the rice several times until the water runs clear
• Remove the chicken legs, sprinkle with extra salt and pepper (if desired) and place them on a baking sheet lined with foil. To finish cooking them, bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until juices run clear. Broil for 2 minutes to crisp the skin
• Add the rice to the pot along with the remaining 3.5 cups of water. Mix well but gently to incorporate the rice. Cover and bring to a boil for 1 minute. Once boiling, keep the rice covered, lower the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Do not uncover the rice before the 20 minutes
• Turn off the heat and let the rice stand for 5 minutes
• Toast the pine nuts in a skillet with 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil on medium heat, stirring constantly until golden. This should take no more than 5 minutes
• Remove the nuts and add the raisins using the same pan. Stir on high heat for 1-2 minutes to heat through and slightly caramelize
• Open the pot and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve in a large dish, with the chicken legs on top and garnish with the pine nuts/almonds and raisins

SPICED SHRIMP AND RICE (MACHBOUS RUBYAN)

Steps:

• Heat one tablespoon of butter in a large pot over moderately high heat.
• Add the shrimp and garlic, and stir until the shrimp JUST turn pink.
• Remove and set aside.
• Add the remaining butter and the onion to the pot and fry gently until softened-about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the buharat and turmeric and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper and chopped herbs.
• Bring to the boil and add the water.
• Cover and boil over moderate heat for 5 minutes, then add the rice.
• Bring to the boil and boil covered for 10 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low.
• Stir the pots contents, then place the shrimp on top of the rice, stirring them in lightly.
• Cover the pot and cook over a very low heat for 20 minutes, stirring once half way through cooking.
• Remove from the heat, stir, and then leave to stand, off the heat for 10 minutes.
• Serve.

MACHBOUS ALA DJAJ (BAHRAIN)

Steps:

• Melt the ghee or butter in a saucepan and frying the onions until they are transparent and beginning to turn brown. Add the baharat and turmeric and stir for another two minutes or so.
• Add the chicken pieces to the pot and turn to coat. Cook over a medium heat until the pieces are lightly browned on all sides.
• Add the tomatoes, cloves, lemon rind, cinnamon, cardamom pods and salt. Stir to get everything well incorporated, then add the water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover. Simmer for about 45 minutes.
• Wash the rice in cold water and drain. Add the rice, cilantro and parsley and bring back to a simmer.
• Keep cooking for another 35 to 40 minutes, until chicken is tender and almost all of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and let rest for 10 minutes.

CHICKEN MAKBOUS

Steps:

• Make the Cornish game hens: Preheat oven to 500 degrees. In a large stockpot, bring stock, onions, garlic, peppercorns, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, 3 teaspoons salt, and 8 cups water to a simmer over medium-high heat.
• Season hens with salt and pepper and place into the simmering poaching liquid, adding more water, if necessary, to cover hens. Poach for 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove hens from poaching liquid and place them breast-side up on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Strain poaching liquid, reserving 5 cups for couscous.
• In a small bowl, stir to combine ghee, loumi, coriander, ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Brush ghee mixture all over the poached hens, then transfer to oven. Roast until skin is crisp and deep golden brown, about 8 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
• Make the couscous: In a large straight-sided skillet, heat ghee over medium. Add garlic, leeks, onion, thyme, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, and cayenne; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in split peas and 5 cups reserved poaching liquid; bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, then stir in couscous and cook until al dente, about 15 minutes. Fold in spinach and season with salt and pepper.
• Halve hens through the breast and backbones, if desired. Spoon couscous onto a serving platter and top with hens.