Enjoy Machboos from Bahrain

This week we are visiting Bahrain and are preparing the country's national dish, Machboos.

MACHBOOS

Ingredients

For the chicken:

6 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 chicken, cut in half

2 cups chopped onion

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cumin

4 Kefir lime leaves

1 habanero pepper, finely chopped

1 cup chopped tomato

3 tablespoons fresh chopped ginger

2 tablespoons chopped garlic

2 cups chicken stock

4 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons rose water

Salt, to taste

For the rice:

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 cups basmati rice

6 cups chicken stock

2 tablespoons garlic

1/2 cup chopped tomato

1/2 cup chopped onion

Salt and pepper, to taste

Putting it together

For this dish, you will need two large pans. In the first pan, adding the vegetable oil and heat until it begins to smoke. Add the chicken halves and brown on all sides. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside. Add the onions and cook until browned. Add the dry spices and garlic and cook for about one minute. Return chicken to the pan along with the remaining chicken ingredients and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.

While the chicken cooks, in the second pan, add the olive oil and rice and cook until the rice is golden brown. Add the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cook the rice for about 15 minutes. Remove rice from heat and let it rest for another 15 minutes or so to absorb any remaining liquid.

To serve the Machboos, top a large serving of rice with some chicken and sauce and enjoy.

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Next week, we will visit Afghanistan to preparing a very traditional dish called Qorma.

Antonio Villagomez is head chef and owner of Cilantro's restaurant and catering in Yuba City. Contact him at 844-2111. His website is www.cilantros.us .