Omani Lamb Kabouli Recipes

AFGHANI KABLI PULAO

Steps:

• Soak the rice in cool water for 5 minutes. Rinse until water runs clear.
• Place 4 cardamom pods on a cutting board and lightly crush using the flat side of a knife; transfer to a pressure cooker. Add halved onion, garlic head, 4 cloves, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon cumin seed, salt, sugar, cinnamon stick, paprika, and coriander seeds. Pour in water to cover.
• Seal pressure cooker lid and turn heat to high. Cook until pressure cooker whistles once, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Wait for 2 more whistles, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow pressure to release naturally, about 10 minutes.
• Strain broth into a bowl. Clean out the pressure cooker and heat it over medium heat. Add oil and chopped onion; cook and stir until softened and browned, about 7 to 10 minutes. Add carrots; cook until soft, about 3 minutes more. Add raisins, almonds, and strained rice. Add remaining 1 teaspoon black pepper, remaining 1 teaspoon cumin seed, and remaining clove.
• Crush remaining cardamom seed to a powder and add to the pressure cooker. Mix to combine; pour in enough broth to cover the rice.
• Increase heat to high and seal the pressure cooker. Cook until the first whistle, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Cook for 5 minutes and remove from heat. Let rest for 7 minutes; release the pressure naturally, about 10 minutes. Transfer cooked rice to a serving dish immediately to prevent overcooking.

OMANI LAMB KABOULI

Steps:

• To make the Omani spice paste:.
• Combine all ingredients in an electric food processor and process until a thick paste is formed, adding more vinegar if necessary. Keep aside.
• Put lamb pieces and water in a large pot, bring to boil and remove froth as it appears. Add the cinnamon sticks, and all whole spices. Cover and simmer over low heat for 1½ hours or until the meat becomes tender. Remove lamb pieces, put them in a bowl and set aside. Drain the stock and set aside.
• Cook the extra water and onion in a large sauce pan with occasional stirring for 5 minutes or until water is steamed and the onions become tender.
• Add 2 tablespoons of the ghee (reserve 2 tablespoons) and stir for another 3 minutes or until onions become golden in color. Add garlic, raisins, chickpeas, 1 tablespoon of Omani mixed spices (reserve 3 tablespoons), saffron strands and rose water, stir for 1 minutes then set aside.
• In a large pot put 4½ cups of drained stock; add more water if stock is not enough. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of ghee, the remaining 3 tablespoons of Omani mixed spices, the Bouillon cubes and rice.
• Bring to boil with occasional stirring, cover and cook over low heat for 10 minutes or until rice is half cooked, add the boiled lamb pieces on top of the rice, cover and cook on low heat again for another 10-15 minutes or until rice is cooked.
• Serve the rice and lamb in plate topped with the onion mixture.

CHICKEN KABOULI (MUSCAT STYLE)

Steps:

• Place the chicken and water in a large pot and bring to a boil; add cinnamon, spices, Omani spice mix and bouillon.
• Reduce heat, cover, and cook for 30 minutes; remove chicken, then drain and reserve stock.
• Return 9 cups of the stock to the pot, adding additional water if needed; return to a boil, stir in rice, then cook 10 minutes; drain.
• Melt the ghee in the pot, saute chickpeas and raisins for 2 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Return the chicken to the pot, add the rice, sprinkle with the saffron and rose water, add chickpeas and raisins, cover, and coom u til the rice is tender, 25 minutes.

OMANI-STYLE LAMB

Steps:

• Rub lamb with spices. Set aside for an hour or so.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a lidded kettle large enough to hold lamb in 2 layers. In batches, brown lamb on all sides.
• Discard all but 1 tablespoon of fat. Add dates, lemon juice, vinegar and salt and reduce by half. Arrange lamb pieces in 2 layers. Set lid ajar slightly and braise lamb over a medium-low flame for about an hour, turning meat from time to time while stirring date mixture to prevent scorching. (Add water as needed.) Cook until lamb is tender, testing it with a fork.
• The lamb is ready when it begins to fall from the bone.