Cardamom Infused Chicken With Rice (Saleek)

lemoncurd's Note:

This dish is my ultimate comfort food. It's commonly eaten in winter and during the month of Ramadan for the pre-dawn breakfast, but for me it's a regular at least 2 or 3 times a month. Its always served with doggos (Saudi salsa). (Note: in Saudi the thigh and drumstick is not disjointed and is served as one portion).

• Total Time: 21 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 1.0 pot

• 1 ¼ kg chicken , with skin on, disjointed and washed
• 4 cups water
• 7 green cardamoms (peel the skin slightly so seeds can fall out)
• 2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
• ¾ cup basmati rice
• 2 cups milk
• 3 tablespoons ghee
• 2 pieces gum arabic (mastikah Do not leave it out)

Directions:

1. Boil chicken in the water with cardamoms and salt, until soft and tender (1 hour).
2. Remove chicken to an oven tray.
3. Strain chicken broth into a big bowl and pour back into the cooking pot.
4. Add rice to the broth, taste for salt.
5. Cook rice till extremely soft and mushy.
6. Add milk and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring continually on low heat.
7. Heat ghee and mastikah in a saucepan on the stove till mastikah melts (it would not work in the microwave).
8. Add melted mastikah to the rice and mix well. Switch heat off close pot and rest for 10 minutes.
9. Pop chicken under the grill to redden.
10. Place rice onto serving plate arrange chicken over the rice.
11. Serve with doggos (Saudi Salsa (Zalaata or Doggos)) and Arabic salad (Arabic Salad).

Reviews

[Cookgirl]

I *really* wanted to like this but the mastikah completely overpowered the chicken. If I were to tackle this recipe again (haven't given up completely), I would reduce the amount of mastikah significantly. I also did not like the mushiness of the rice cooked in milk. Perhaps this just wasn't a good recipe fit for me. But, I learn something new everyday and it was an interesting laboratory experiment nonetheless. Sorry!

[Chef #947199]

I haven't tried this particular recipe, but I've had it from a local Arabic store, and it's INCREDIBLE. She's right about it being the ultimate comfort food. Warm and hearty, filling and super tasty. You must try it!

[Rita~]

Cardamon sold me on this recipe, One of my favorite spices. Comfort food! I must say I did have a search on when I saw the "ingredient 2 pieces gum arabic/mastikah" From my research gum arabic and mastikahis not the same! Better know as "Mastiha: or Gum Mastic" can be found in Greek store or on line at Krinos.com It is a gum and does melt it seem to be mild in taste but it does have it`s benefits... Mastiha has been recognized for its antibacterial properties Chios Gum Mastic is the resinous material obtained from the Pistacia lentiscus tree grown on the island of Chios in Greece. Used as a health food in Greece, a recent study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine supports mastic's contribution to gastrointestinal health. http://www.renewalresearch.com/articles.php/57 So I can see how this dish would help ease an upset belly and for those that have a hard time chewing. At least the rice part. This is very much like congee! Thanks for turning me on to something new!