Omani Chicken Machboos
A fragrant and flavorful one-pot rice dish where chicken is slow-cooked with aromatic spices, dried limes, and tomatoes, then topped with fluffy basmati rice. The compression of ingredients in one pot is key to its name and deep flavor.
๐ง Ingredients
- 6 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 large Onion(chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic cloves(or 1 tbsp garlic paste)
- 2 sticks Cinnamon sticks
- 8 pods Cardamom pods
- 3 tsp Baharat spice mix
- 2 Green chilies(halved or roughly chopped (optional))
- 2 Dried limes
- 2 tbsp Tomato purรฉe
- 1 kg Whole chicken(cut into 8 pieces)
- 3 Tomatoes(finely chopped)
- 0.5 Red or green pepper(chopped)
- 600 g Basmati rice(washed)
- 50 g Blanched almonds(optional, for garnish)
- 10 g Coriander(finely chopped, for garnish)
- 0.5 Pomegranate seeds(optional, for garnish)
๐จโ๐ณ Instructions
- 1
Heat 3 tbsp of oil in a large pan over medium-low heat. Add the chopped onion and sautรฉ for 5 minutes until lightly browned. Add garlic, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, green chilies (if using), and dried limes. Stir and fry for 2-4 minutes. Stir in the tomato purรฉe.
- 2
Add the chicken pieces to the pan and sear for 6-10 minutes on each side. Add the chopped tomatoes and pepper. Pour in 1 liter of water and season with salt. Increase heat to medium-high, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- 3
Add the washed basmati rice and the remaining 3 tbsp of oil to the pan. Stir to combine. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Wrap the pan lid with a clean tea towel to create a tight seal, and place it on top of the pan to help generate steam. Cook for 20 minutes until the rice is fluffy and cooked.
- 4
While the rice cooks, toast the blanched almonds in a dry frying pan over medium heat until golden brown.
- 5
Fluff the rice with a fork. Serve the machboos hot, garnished with toasted almonds, fresh coriander, and pomegranate seeds if desired.
๐ก Tip: The tea towel around the lid helps create steam for extra fluffy rice.
๐ก Pro Tips
- โEnsure the dried limes are pierced or slightly cracked to release their flavor.
- โAdjust the amount of chili according to your spice preference.
- โWashing the rice thoroughly before cooking is crucial for a fluffy texture.
โจ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- This dish can also be made with lamb or fish.
- Add other vegetables like carrots or peas for extra nutrition and color.