Kuwaiti Curried Chicken (Quwarmah Ala Dajaj)

UmmBinat's Note:

A definite 5 stars. This is very good. I sometimes add okra (bamia). It does not use curry powder and I actually never considered this a curry. I serve it with Traditional Bahraini Muhammar - Sweet Rice Dish and a fresh salad for a great meal masha Allah. Modified from the Gulf States section of The Complete Middle East Cookbook by Tess Mallos.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 4.0

• 3 lbs chicken , skinned and jointed (I use chicken breasts a lot instead just cut each in half and cook for less time)
• salt
• 1 ¾ teaspoons baharat mixed spice (May use Baharat Aka Middle East Mixed Spices - the Real Mix)
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• ¼ cup olive oil (or ghee)
• 2 large onions , chopped
• 2 garlic cloves , crushed
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger , grated
• 1 stick cinnamon bark
• 1 cup tomato sauce (I use canned pureed tomatoes)
• ¼ cup water
• 2 dried limes (loomi, or 1 1/2 tsp ground loomi but I find whole is better, don't leave this out please)
• 1 cup frozen okra (bamia, fried in a little oil) (optional)

Directions:

1. Rinse and wipe chicken pieces dry and sprinkle with salt.
2. Combine baharat and turmeric and rub half onto chicken pieces. Leave for 15 minutes.
3. Heat olive oil and brown chicken pieces on each side. Remove to plate.
4. Add onion and fry gently until transparent.
5. Add garlic, ginger, remaining spice mixture, and cinnamon bark to the onion and fry for 5 minutes stirring often.
6. Add tomato sauce, water, salt to taste, and loomi pierced twice with a skewer or loomi powder. Bring to a high simmer.
7. Add chicken pieces and okra if using, reduce heat to low and simmer very gently for 1 1/2 hours until chicken is tender and sauce is thick.
8. Serve hot with Baharat Aka Middle East Mixed Spices - the Real Mix or other basmati rice dish and salad.
9. Enjoy!

Reviews

[umisa]

This has been a regular in my house for quite some time mashaAllaah. DH LOVES this!!! I'm making it right now, but this time I added about a teaspoon of your iraqi curry powder (#442889) along with the other spices. It smells a-maz-ing! I can't wait until dinner!

[Mia in Germany]

Made with chicken breasts and canned okra because I can't find frozen ones here. As the canned okras are already short to puree I only added them one minute before serving to heat them. Thanks for posting an excellent dish in which I could use my dried limes :) Made for Ramadan Tag 2010.

[Elaniemay]

Wonderful flavor! It's a keeper! Made for went to market tag.