Bukhari rice — a Saudi Arabian recipe is all about flavours and fragrances. Though this Saudi dish has its origin in Afghanistan, it is widely popular across the Middle Eastern countries. The best thing about this rice dish is that it features a special type of spice that gives the rice an appetising flavour. The perfectly roasted chicken further adds to its delicious taste.

If you have basmati rice in your pantry, you can make chicken bukhari to enjoy on day. Here’s the chicken bukhari rice recipe for you.

Ingredients you need:

For bukhari spice mix

• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 4 cloves
• 4 cardamoms
• 3 cinnamon sticks (small)
• 1 tsp black pepper corns
• 5 bay leaves

For chicken rice 

• 500g chicken (cut into big pieces)
• 500g basmati rice (soaked)
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 large onion sliced
• 4 green chillies 
• 2 dried lemons
• 50g almonds (fried)
• 100g raisins (fried)
• 1 potato (julienned) 
• 1 carrot (julienned) 
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon garlic paste
• 2 large tomatoes pureed 
• 2 tablespoon tomato paste
• Salt to taste

Cooking method:

• Take a large pan and heat it over medium flame. Add cloves, cardamoms, cumin seeds, black pepper corns, and bay leaves. Dry roast it until the spices become fragrant.
• Take out the spices and grind them into a fine powder. 
• Now, take a heavy-bottomed pan, add olive oil to it and let it heat up for a few minutes. After the oil is heated, toss 2 cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and sliced onions. Add salt per taste and sauté it until onions turn golden brown.  
• Add chicken, bukhari spice, dried limes, and chicken stock. 
• Add half cup of water to the mix along with green chillies, carrots, potatoes, tomato puree and tomato paste. 
• Cover up the pan using a lid and cook it for about 15 minutes. When it starts boiling, remove the chicken from pan and keep it aside for grilling.
• Add the soaked basmati rice, stir well and cook for a few minutes with lid on.
• Check if the water is absorbed and rice is perfectly cooked. Lower the heat and keep cooking for about 8 minutes. 
• Meanwhile, grill the chicken and place it over the flavoured rice. 
• Enjoy it hot by garnishing it with fried raisins and almonds!

Note:

• You can skip potatoes and carrots.
• You can skip water and let the spices cook in the chicken juice.

So, enjoy this Saudi’s famous chicken burkhari rice with your family and friends. You can share your version of bukhari rice recipe in the comment section.