CHICKEN MANDY (YEMENI, SAUDI)

Steps:

• NOTE: YOU NEED 1 bukhoor coal cut into 4 pieces.
• Make sure the skin is left on the chicken. This is one of the keys for cooking mandy because the skin produces natural fat to cook in the spices. This is why we do not use an oil. Rub mandy spice and sea salt, to taste all over chicken pieces. Place in a non-stick saute pan (or a well seasoned cast iron pan is what I use), cook chicken uncovered with no oil until tender and brown. Place cooked chicken on a plate reserving the pan remnants in the pan as they are.
• In a separate pan saute finely chopped onion with 1 tbs butter until tender. Add the whole bruised cardamom pods, cloves, chicken stock, sea salt, to taste, and drained Basmati rice; stir. Bring to a full boil add chopped tomatoes then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook (do not remove lid) for 15 minutes or as long as you cook your rice usually.
• After the chicken and rice are done pour the rice into the saute pan used to cook the chicken, mix around if transferring back to the other pot which I suggest if you use a cast iron pan like I do. Place the onion shell bowl into the middle of the rice. If you make a indent in the rice it is easier. Melt butter and pour into onion bowl. Carefully place chicken around the pan slightly close to the onion bowl. Add a hot bit of coal into the melted butter and quickly shut the lid. Allow to smoke for 15 minutes adding a new coal as needed. You may use 3 or 4 pieces of the same bukhoor coal.
• Remove onion bowl carefully and discard.
• Enjoy!