Best 7 Saudi Kabsa Recipes

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Saudi Kabsa, a cornerstone of Saudi Arabian cuisine, is a majestic rice dish that tantalizes the taste buds with its aromatic blend of spices, succulent meat, and fluffy rice. It is a celebratory dish, often served at special occasions or to honor guests. This culinary delight has gained international recognition for its captivating flavors and unique cooking techniques, making it a must-try for food enthusiasts worldwide. As we embark on this culinary journey, let's explore the best recipes and techniques to create an authentic and unforgettable Saudi Kabsa experience in your own kitchen.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

AL KABSA - TRADITIONAL SAUDI RICE (& MEAT) DISH



Al Kabsa - Traditional Saudi Rice (& Meat) Dish image

This is my meat (lamb) version of Al Kabsa / Kabsah. Kabsa is one of the most famous of all the traditional Saudi dishes & is actually easy to make! See my other recipes for the chicken version.......

Provided by Um Safia

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 3h20m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 27

2 1/2 kg lamb, large cubes
4 cups basmati rice
1/2 kg carrot, peeled and finely diced
1 green pepper, seeded and finely diced
1 kg tomatoes, peeled and diced
1 kg finely chopped onion
6 -8 garlic cloves, minced
1 pinch ground cumin
1 pinch ground coriander
salt and black pepper
butter (for frying) or olive oil (for frying)
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1/2 teaspoon saffron
1/4 teaspoon ground green cardamoms
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground dried limes
2 cups water
1 beef stock cube (Maggi)
1 large onion, finely chopped
14 ounces chopped tomatoes
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 cup diced celery
salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons butter

Steps:

  • Fry meat until browned on all sides. Add enough water to the pot so that it covers the meat by 1.5"-2", bring to a boil then cook gently over medium heat for 1 1/2 - 2 hours or until tender. Reserve stock & set meat aside.
  • Soak rice for 15 minutes. Drain, rise under running water then drain well.
  • Add butter to a large stock pot or casserole, fry the onion, pepper, carrot & spices. Cook on low heat for about 10 minutes, or until tender.
  • Add rice to vegetables in the pot, cook for 5 minutes on medium heat. Add meat stock until stock covers rice (approx 1.5" above rice). Cover pot. Cook on low heat for 30 minutes or until tender - add a little more stock or water if rice seems to become dry.
  • Sauce:.
  • Fry onion, garlic and tomato in the butter. Add tomato paste, celery, salt, cinnamon, water & stock cube. Cook on medium heat until slightly thickened and celery is tender.
  • Serve in a large dish or on a platter. Place the rice first, top with meat & garnish with pine nuts. Serve the sauce in a jug with a spoon. Saudies enjoy kabsa with a hot sauce called 'shattah' -- .

Nutrition Facts : Calories 793.4, Fat 32.1, SaturatedFat 12.4, Cholesterol 138.1, Sodium 243.3, Carbohydrate 81.7, Fiber 7.9, Sugar 12.2, Protein 44.6

SAUDI KABSA SPICE MIX



Saudi Kabsa Spice Mix image

Whole spices make it much more aromatic and flavourful so that is what I recommend using. This is my addaption of a recipe found on http://arabicbites.blogspot.com

Provided by UmmBinat

Categories     Southwest Asia (middle East)

Time 6m

Yield 6 Tablespoons, 1 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon coriander seed
1 teaspoon black peppercorns (1/2 tbs if you don't want it hot)
1 teaspoon black cardamom pod (I left this out, they are not to be substituted with green cardomom)
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon fennel seed (We prefer this without as we don't like fennel flavour. You will be able to taste it.)

Steps:

  • Blend until crushed.
  • Use as required.

EASY SAUDI KABSA (ZAINAB'S) (GLUTEN FREE)



Easy Saudi Kabsa (Zainab's) (Gluten Free) image

Tasty. Chicken with spiced yellow rice & a nice tomato sauce or if you are tomato free serve it with Recipe #359835 used to replace the tomato puree. Modified from http://arabicbites.blogspot.com

Provided by UmmBinat

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 30m

Yield 2 , 2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 20

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
sea salt
fresh ground pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups white basmati rice
3 cups chicken stock (I use just a little less for what I find perfect rice)
1/4 teaspoon middle eastern mixed spice (Baharat Aka Middle East Mixed Spices - the Real Mix)
1/4 teaspoon kabsa spices (Saudi Kabsa Spice Mix)
1 pinch turmeric
salt
2 cups canned tomato puree (or Basic Nomato Sauce (Tomato Free Tomato Sauce) to be tomato free)
1 tablespoon tomato paste (none if you are tomato free)
salt
fresh ground pepper
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon middle eastern mixed spice (Baharat Aka Middle East Mixed Spices - the Real Mix)
1 pinch ground cumin
1 teaspoon tahini
4 garlic cloves, crushed
chicken stock, if needed (or water)

Steps:

  • Season chicken breasts with olive oil, salt and pepper, cook over high heat, turning when golden.
  • Rince basmati rice well and soak in cold water for 20 minutes.
  • Drain.
  • In a deep pan add all ingredients under rice heading, bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer covered on low for 14-20 minutes until done.
  • For the sauce stir all the ingredients under daqous heading in a medium pot.
  • Simmer until well combined over low heat adding additional liquid if needed.
  • Serve chicken breast alongside basmati rice with Daqous & a green salad.
  • Enjoy.

ROASTED CHICKEN AL-KABSA (SAUDI) (GLUTEN FREE)



Roasted Chicken Al-Kabsa (Saudi) (Gluten Free) image

Al-Kabsa is considered a national dish from Saudi Arabia. This is my tasty adaption of a recipe found on http://arabicbites.blogspot.com. I serve this with Recipe #369045 and fresh salad.

Provided by UmmBinat

Categories     Whole Chicken

Time 57m

Yield 4 pieces, 2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 whole baby chicken, cut into 4
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/8 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon baharat (Baharat Aka Middle East Mixed Spices - the Real Mix)
1/2 teaspoon kabsa spice mix (Saudi Kabsa Spice Mix)
salt
3 cilantro, springs

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • De-skin the chicken.
  • Season with spices and olive oil.
  • Place in a roasting pan and into the oven for 40-50 minutes.
  • Garnish with cilantro and serve with Recipe #369045 or basmati rice.
  • Enjoy!

FISH KABSA (SAUDI)



Fish Kabsa (Saudi) image

This is good with a fresh salad on the side. "Fish kabsa is a dish coming from the cities that border the sea and gulf in Saudi Arabia. Any white fish fillet that you may like would work well in this recipe." Modified from a recipe found on yasalamcooking.com.

Provided by UmmBinat

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 37m

Yield 4-6 , 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 kg fish fillet, cut into smallish large pieces
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons tomato paste
6 garlic cloves
1 large white onion, diced
2 cups rice (I use Basmati and am sure to soak it the required mount of time)
3 cups water
1 vegetable bouillon cube (I use homemade vegetable stock)
1/2 tablespoon arabic mixed spice (Baharat Aka Middle East Mixed Spices - the Real Mix)
sea salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted in a dry frying pan
1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Steps:

  • In a large pan on medium heat add butter, onions and garlic; cook until tender. Add Arabic spice mix, mix well. Carefully add fish and allow to cook halfway on each side until lightly pink-white. About 1 minute or less on each side. Remove fish/onion mixture and set aside.
  • Add tomato paste and bullion cube to pan, cook a little then add rice and water. Carefully place fish mixture on top. Raise heat to high and allow to come to a full boil, cover and reduce to low. Allow to cook until rice and fish are thoroughly cooked. Depending on the thickness of the fish fillets and the rice type, adjust timing.
  • Once done, arrange fish kabsa on a serving platter and decorate top with cilantro and pine nuts.
  • Serve with a fresh salad.
  • Enjoy!

SAUDI KABSA



Saudi Kabsa image

Kabsa is the main dish of Saudi Arabia. While the ingredients may be long, this recipe is anything but hard. Each spice used in this recipe is a popular Middle Eastern spice so the combining spices make this dish about as authentic as you can get. Every home has their own style, this is mine and I hope you enjoy.

Provided by Ya Salam Cooking

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 cup basmati rice, washed and rinsed
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
2 bay leaves
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, diced
6 green cardamom pods, whole
5 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 black limes
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cardamom, ground
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
4 hard-boiled eggs (optional)
pine nuts and raisins (optional)

Steps:

  • NOTE: place basmati rice in bowl with water over it to expand, it will not cook and will stay hard unless you do this. Leave for 15 minutes at the least.
  • 1. In an 8-quart stockpot on medium-high heat add onions, garlic and. Allow onions to turn golden. Add bay leaves, cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon sticks, black limes, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, ginger and ground cardamom. Blend well and allow to sauté for 30 seconds.
  • 2. Add tomato sauce and chicken bouillon. Mix well until sauce thickens, reduce heat to low-medium. Add chicken allow to sauté for a 1 minute. Rotate chicken so that it gets all of the flavors. Add water until chicken is completely covered. Bring to a full boil then reduce to low. Cook for 35 minutes covered.
  • 5. After the chicken has cooked reserve broth for rice. In a 2-quart saucepan, add rice and enough sauce from the chicken just so that the rice is covered. Bring to a boil then immediately turn heat to low and cook covered for eight to ten minutes. Meanwhile, why the rice is cooking turn oven on high broil. Add chicken to a roasting pan and broil for five minutes or until golden.
  • 8. Add cooked rice to a serving platter with chicken arranged on top. Garnish plate with hard-boiled eggs, pine nuts, and raisins.

KABSA (SAUDI RICE & CHICKEN)



Kabsa (Saudi Rice & Chicken) image

I had the privilege of experiencing this dish in 1979 when my Saudi neighbors invited me over for dinner. They had a spread of their native foods on newspapers on their living room floor and ate the rice with their fingers. Not knowing the proper spelling of the dish made it nearly impossible to find a recipe on the internet...

Provided by Karen Petree

Categories     Chicken

Time 1h45m

Number Of Ingredients 18

KABSA DISH
1/4 c butter
3 lb chicken (thighs)
1 large onion, finely chopped
6 clove garlic, minced
1/4 c tomato puree
14 oz canned chopped tomatoes, un-drained (or fresh)
3 carrots, grated
2 whole cloves
1 pinch grated nutmeg
1 pinch ground cumin
1 pinch ground coriander
salt & freshly ground black pepper
4 c hot water
1 maggi (chicken bouillon) cube
2 1/4 c basmati rice (don't rinse or soak this)
1/4 c raisins (optional)
1/4 c slivered almonds, toasted

Steps:

  • 1. Melt butter in a large stock pot, casserole or dutch oven. Add chicken pieces, onion & garlic & sauté until onion is tender. Stir in tomato puree & simmer over a low heat for a couple of minutes.
  • 2. Add tomatoes, carrots, cloves, all the spices & salt and pepper. Cook for a couple of minutes. Add the water & Maggi cube.
  • 3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Add rice to the pot & stir carefully. (if you're wanting to brown the chicken in the oven - remove it from the pot now & place in the preheated oven).
  • 4. Re-Cover & simmer for 35 - 40 minutes - adding the raisins for the last 10 minutes - or until rice is tender.
  • 5. Place the rice on a large serving dish, topped with the chicken & garnished with almonds. Serve with a fresh mixed salad - preferably with a little lime vinaigrette. Saudis like their Kabsa with a hot sauce called 'Shattah'.
  • 6. (You can also 'finish' the chicken pieces off in the oven by cooking them for 25 - 30 minutes at 350 degrees whilst the rice is cooking. (but don't let them become dry)

Tips:

  • To achieve the most authentic Saudi Kabsa flavor, use high-quality basmati rice. Look for long, slender grains that are free of broken pieces.
  • Soaking the rice before cooking helps to remove excess starch and results in fluffier, separate grains.
  • Use a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven for cooking the rice. This will help to distribute heat evenly and prevent the rice from burning.
  • When adding the rice to the pot, be sure to spread it out in an even layer. This will help to ensure that it cooks evenly.
  • Do not stir the rice while it is cooking. Stirring can break the grains and make the rice gummy.
  • Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork to separate the grains.
  • For the chicken, use a whole chicken cut into 8 pieces. This will give you a combination of white and dark meat.
  • Be sure to season the chicken generously with salt and pepper before cooking.
  • When cooking the chicken, start by browning it in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. This will help to develop flavor and color.
  • Once the chicken is browned, add the vegetables and cook until they are softened.
  • Add the rice, broth, and spices to the pot and bring to a boil. Then, reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through.
  • Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork and serve immediately.

Conclusion:

Saudi Kabsa is a delicious and flavorful dish that is perfect for special occasions or everyday meals. With its combination of tender chicken, fluffy rice, and aromatic spices, it is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give Saudi Kabsa a try. You won't be disappointed!

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