Fish Machboos Recipes

MACHBOOS OR FOOGA (TRADITIONAL UNITED ARAB EMIRATES DISH)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
• Bring water to boiling and add chicken bouillon cubes, lower heat and add dried limes and saffron and let simmer till bouillon is dissolved --keep it hot.
• Sprinkle chicken with half the spices (except the garlic).
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet on med-high to high heat and fry the chicken till both sides are brown, lower heat to medium and remove the chicken to a plate.
• In that same skillet sauté the onions for 2 minutes, add tomatoes, garlic and remaining spices and sauté another 2 minutes, then turn off the burner.
• Add the rice and stir for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, till well coated.
• Spread rice in the baking dish and place the chicken pieces over the rice.
• Gently press the dried limes on the sides of the pot to distribute flavor in the broth and then poor on the rice and chicken (the whole thing including the dried limes) and cover tightly with foil.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes--do not open the foil cover at all until the time is up.
• If you want to eat this the authentic way, you can lay newspaper on the floor (for easy cleanup of spills), put all of this on a very large platter or on a couple large sheets of aluminum foil laid on the newspaper and everyone sits around and eats with their right hand!

SHRIMP MACHBOOS

Steps:

• Season shrimps with salt, pepper and a pinch of turmeric.
• Add 2 tablespoons of veg oil to a pot, allow it to heat up on a medium flame.
• Cover the rice with water and let it soak for 30 or so minutes.
• Stir fry the shrimps in the hot oil and cook it for 2 minutes on each side, just to brown them.
• Remove from oil and set aside on a plate.
• Add the onions into the same pot with the same oil, stir untill it's a golden brown color.
• Once the onions have browned, add the garlic and ginger.
• Now add all the spices, except for the dried lime.
• Once you have enhanced the spices' aromas add the limes (pierce a hole right through them) and tomatoe.
• Allow tomatoes to wilt and lime to soften a little.
• Add salt, stir it in.
• Replace shrimps to the dish.
• Drain rice and add to the dish without stirring.
• Cover rice with water, so that there is just 2 inches of water covering the dish.
• Raise the heat just till it boils then reduce the heat (media heat).
• Cook for approximately 20 minutes Keep checking if the water has not evaporated before the rice has been cooked thoroughly, if necessary top up with a 1/4 cup of water.
• Once the rice is done right,if there is still some remaining water drain it off and then serve with a side salad.