Saleeg or Saudi risotto isn’t just any dish; it’s a traditional, delicious dish. The cuisines originated from Saudi Arabia’s Hejaz region, where women gather together in the kitchen, cook the dish, and pass it down through generations.

Saleeg is a heritage dish that features historical significance. The word “Saleeg’ is derived from the Arabic word “Salaq” which means “to boil.” In literal words, it means boiling all the ingredients together. 

Since saleeg is prepared using long grain and short grain rice, it creates a risotto like creamy base. So, make sure to explore top rice exporters in Saudi Arabia to source high-quality rice grains. 

In this blog, we will discuss how to prepare saleeg at home with same taste and fragrance. So, let’s check it out.

Ingredients you need:

Ingredients to prepare the chicken broth:

• 1 chicken whole, cut into pieces
• 4 garlic cloves (crushed)
• 3 onions (sliced)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 whole black peppercorns
• 4 cardamom 
• 3 tablespoons of fresh thyme & oregano or dried thyme & oregano 
• Water 
• Salt to taste

Ingredients for spice mixture:

• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• Salt to taste

Ingredients for saleeg:

• Jashn basmati rice 1 cup 
• Short-grain rice 2 cups 
• 2-3 cups of milk
• 4 cups chicken broth 
• 2 tbsp butter or ghee
• Black pepper to taste
• Salt to taste

Ingredients for garnishing:

• 2 tbsp melted butter/ghee
• Freshly cracked pepper
• Parsley (chopped)

Ingredients for duggus (Arabic salsa):

• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 bunch of coriander
• 4 tomatoes (peeled)
• 1 pepper (as per spice requirement)
• Lemon zest
• Salt to taste
• Lemon juice as per sour preference

Instructions to cook:

Preparing chicken broth

• Take a large pot and heat it on the low flame. Add chicken pieces, bay leaves, garlic, onions, cinnamon stick, cardamom, thyme, black peppercorns, salt, and oregano.
• Now, pour enough water, cover the chicken and bring it to a boil.
• Once the ingredients start boiling, low the flame and let it simmer for about 40 to 45 minutes. Check in between if the chicken pieces are tender. 
• During boiling, the foam will build up, so use a spoon to skim it off. 
• Once cooked, remove the chicken pieces and set aside. 
• Now, strain the broth and keep it side for later use. 

Preparing spice mixture

• Take a small bowl and combine all the spice mixture ingredients, including olive oil, paprika, cumin, coriander, black pepper, turmeric, and salt. 
• Use this spice mix to coat the chicken pieces.

Broiling the chicken

• Preheat the broiler and add the spice coated chicken pieces to a baking tray. 
• Now, broil the chicken for about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Once the chicken is golden brown, turn off the broiler. 

Preparing duggus

• Put the coriander, tomatoes, pepper, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt in a blender and blend all the ingredients. 
• Take out in a bowl and set aside.

Saleeg preparation 

• Take a large pot, heat it and add butter or ghee to it.
• Now, add long-grain basmati rice and short-grain rice. Sauté for a few minutes and then add 4 cups of broth. Stir the mixture and bring it to a boil.
• Let the mixture simmer until the broth is completely absorbed. 
• Once the rice is cooked, add milk and cook it for another few minutes. Stir the mix at regular interval to avoid sticking it to the pot. Add more milk and the consistency is creamy.
• Now, season the mix with pepper and salt to taste.
• Add butter and stir it in the rice.

Serving

• Once the chicken turns golden and crisp, take it out from the oven and keep aside. 
• Take out the creamy saleeg on a plate and top it with the broiled chicken. 
• Add remaining butter and garnish it with freshly chopped parsley and cracked peppers. 
• Serve it with duggus on the side.

This delicious dish is sure to please your taste buds. Ensure to explore top rice suppliers in Saudi Arabia to find only the best rice for this dish. The flavour and taste come out great when the ingredients are of high-quality and premium.