Machboosorfoogatraditionalunitedarabemiratesdish 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!

MALOOBA

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large pot with 6 cups water, onion, 2 tablespoons allspice, ground cardamom, cardamom seeds, whole cloves and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, and cook until chicken is tender, about 40 minutes. Remove chicken, strain and reserve broth.
• Soak the rice in water while waiting for the chicken to cook. When the chicken is almost done, drain the water off, and stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons of allspice.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the potatoes and cauliflower in the hot oil until browned. They do not need to fully cook.
• In a separate pot, layer fried potatoes on the bottom. This is done so that the rice will not stick to the bottom of the pan. Add the cauliflower and tomatoes, and sprinkle a handful of rice over the vegetables. Remove the bones from the chicken and place the chicken in the pot. Cover with the rest of the rice. Pour in the reserved broth until it reaches a level about 1/2 inch above the level of the rice. Cover the pot, and cook over medium-low heat for 1 hour, until rice is tender.
• When the liquid has absorbed, have a large round tray ready. Uncover the pot, and place the tray over the top. Invert so that the pan is upside down on top of the tray. Let stand for 5 minutes like this, then slowly remove the pot to let the food fall onto the tray.

KUWAITI MACHBOOS LAHEM MA'A DAKKOUS (LAMB AND RICE W/ TOMATO SAU

Steps:

• Wash a leg of lamb or large lamb pieces thoroughly and place in a pot. Cover with water and add cinnamon stick, cloves, bruised cardamom pods, and onion & peirced loomi. Simmer 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is tender, skimming as necessary. When meat is tender, remove the meat, and strain and reserve the stock.
• Rinse the rice, leave to soak in cold water for 15 minutes, then drain well.
• In a separate pan, heat 1/4 cup oil. Sprinkle meat with a teaspoon of ground cardamom or baharat, brown it in the oil and remove. To the remaining oil add the drained rice and stock amount required to cook rice & salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer till all the liquid is absorbed. Pour saffron water over rice and top with meat. Cover well and warm on lowest heat for 15 minutes. (I do this in the oven covered at 250F (warm) until we are ready to eat).
• Garnish (Heshew):.
• Brown onions in a non stick pan without oil and afterf a while with a little water as needed, stirring continuously. Add pine nuts and brown, then add drained sultanas and spices/sea salt. Set aside.
• Sauce (Dakkous):.
• Fry onions and garlic till golden. Add remaining ingredients, stir and simmer 5 minutes.
• Spoon rice onto a shallow dish, top with heshew and meat. Serve with dakkous, lemons and a fresh salad.