Chicken kabsa with spice mix

1 hour 30 mins cooking time

Discover this authentic chicken kabsa recipe that brings the warmth of the Arabian Peninsula to your table. With tender chicken, aromatic spices, and fluffy rice, this glorious golden creation will unfold rich aromas and deliver traditional flavours in every bite. So, step forth, and chop, season, sauté and cook up this tempting dish, made memorable with Lurpak®.

Chicken kabsa with spice mix

1 hour 30 mins cooking time

Ingredients

5 portions

Kabsa spice mix

½ tsp ground cardamom

½ tsp white pepper

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground allspice

1 lime fruit, zest

Kabsa

75 g Lurpak® Unsalted Butter

2 kilos whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces

3 medium onions, peeled and thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped

2 cm piece of fresh ginger, peeled & grated

1 green chilli, finely sliced

2 bay leaves

5 whole clove

4 cardamom pods, crushed

1 cinnamon stick

2 tbsp tomato purée

3 carrots, peeled, halved and finely sliced

400 g tinned chopped tomatoes

500 g basmati rice

750 ml chicken stock

50 g barberries or raisins

salt and black pepper

To serve

A handful of almond flakes, toasted

A small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

3 lemons, halved

Scan to see the recipe online

Method

Kabsa spice mix

Mix all the ingredients and reserve for later.

Kabsa

In a large, heavy-based pan, melt 25g of butter over medium heat and brown half of the chicken pieces (browning time should be 7-10 minutes over medium heat). Remove and add another 25g of butter and brown the remaining chicken pieces. Set aside.

One pot rice tips

Melt the remaining 25g butter and add onions. Cook on medium heat for 5-7 minutes until the onions soften.

Add garlic, ginger, chilli, bay leaves, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon stick. Cook for 1-2 minutes to release all the flavours.

For the best flavour, opt for whole spices such as fresh cardamom pods and cinnamon sticks instead of ground versions. Crushing the cardamom pods and lightly bruising the cinnamon stick before adding everything to the pan releases their essential oils, intensifying the aroma and flavour.

Add the remaining ingredients and stir in the Kabsa spice mix. Ensure the rice is covered with the stock and top the rice with the browned chicken pieces.

Before cooking, soak the basmati rice in cold water for about 20 minutes, then drain it. This helps the rice cook more evenly and become fluffier, allowing it to better absorb the flavours of the stock and spices.

Cover the pan with foil or a tight-fitting lid and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 20-25 minutes or until the rice and chicken are cooked through.

To serve

Let the rice and chicken sit in the pan for 5 minutes with the lid on, then season with flaked almonds and parsley and serve with lemons.

Related recipes

Revel in the process

MASTERING RICE

Discover the tricks and turn your rice dishes into everyday extraordinary.

GET COOKING

Experience a traditional Arabian chicken kabsa recipe

Step into the world of Arabian flavours with our chicken kabsa recipe, bringing together chicken, rice, and a carefully curated spice blend. It is all about balance; warming cinnamon, fragrant cardamom, and a hint of lime zest create a harmonious blend, while garlic and ginger add a bit of zing and a savoury, exotic flavour. Altogether, it adds a little tradition to your table.

Cooking it all in one pot allows the rice to soak up the chicken flavours, turning each grain into a fragrant bite. When using simple, fresh ingredients with quality butter, you get the best flavour, and a juicy and rich chicken without overpowering the other flavours. Serve with toasted almond flakes and fresh parsley for a satisfying crunch and a vibrant colour, completing this feast for the senses.

Savour an easy one-pot chicken dish with fluffy, fragrant rice

If you are after a recipe that combines ease and flavour, this is your answer. It is simple yet satisfying; the butter-browned chicken infuses the rice, giving every grain a full, aromatic flavour, and warm spices such as cardamom, allspice, and cinnamon unite to bring a fragrant twist to your kitchen.

What makes this recipe truly special is the way everything comes together effortlessly in one pot. You sauté the onions, add garlic and ginger, and let the chicken cook slowly, soaking up those incredible spices. With a good measure of Lurpak®, you create a depth of flavour that makes each bite memorable. The meal is crowned with toasted almonds and fresh parsley for a bit of crunch and brightness. Go ahead, savour the ease of a one-pot wonder, kabsa style.

Explore other aromatic rice dishes, such as chicken mandi, lamb quzi, and Mexican rice. They are all delicious on their own or as part of a buffet.

Aromatic kabsa spice mix, garlic, ginger and warm spices

The heart of any great kabsa is its spice mix, and this one is all about aromatic warmth. Our kabsa spice blend combines ground cardamom, white pepper, cinnamon, and allspice with the zest of lime to create a balanced yet flavourful base. Add to that the classics – garlic, ginger, and a hint of chilli – and you have a fragrant and flavour-packed foundation.

Cook up the spices with onions in plenty of butter to release their full potential, and you will smell the transformation as the kitchen fills with rich, inviting aromas. This is where the magic happens, as every bit of flavour is coaxed out. Bay leaves, whole cloves, and crushed cardamom pods give the dish its characteristic warmth.

Put your mark on it

Shake things up by trying a few simple twists. Swap the chicken for lamb. When browned, it adds a richer, melt-in-your-mouth experience that brings a new flavourful depth. Want to add a smoky touch? Stir in a dash of smoked paprika or switch the green chilli for a red one, adding a different kind of heat.

For those who enjoy a bit of sweetness, swap out the raisins for dried apricots or dates; their chewy texture and natural sweetness pair beautifully with the warm spices. You can also play with garnishes; try fresh coriander or mint for a burst of freshness that contrasts nicely with the spices. And, for an extra crunch, mix in some toasted pine nuts or cashews alongside the almond flakes.

COOK, BAKE AND SPREAD WITH

Lurpak® Unsalted Butter

With Lurpak® by your side you’re always ready to cook, bake and fry up wonders, cook. With its delicate taste, Lurpak® Unsalted Butter enhances the flavour of whatever food you add it to. From a hearty risotto dish, your weekend baking creations, to some simple earthy mushrooms, its subtle notes complement every creation you rustle up in the kitchen. For people who love Good Food, Lurpak® makes it even better. Now sleeves up. Today we cook bold.

Find out more