Lebanese chicken and rice (riz ala’ dajaj) recipe

The Lebanese Recipes Kitchen (The home of delicious Lebanese Recipes and Middle Eastern food recipes)invites you to try Lebanese chicken and rice (riz ala’ dajaj) Recipe. Enjoy quick and easy Middle Eastern food recipes and learn how to make Lebanese chicken and rice (riz ala’ dajaj).

A traditional Lebanese dish typically served for special occasions, this recipe exemplifies the importance of spices in Lebanese cuisine. The delicately spiced lamb and rice is topped with cinnamon-dusted chicken, golden almonds and pine nuts. Serve with your favourite salad.

Serves: 6 | Preparation: 20min | Cooking: 45min | Skill level: Easy

By
Sue Dahman

Ingredients

1 cinnamon stick
2 tsp salt, or to taste
500 g chicken breast fillets
40 g butter
1 brown onion, finely chopped
350 g coarse lamb mince
300 g (1½ cups) long grain rice, washed and drained
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp Lebanese mixed spices (see Note)
2 tbsp olive oil
½ cup flaked/slivered almonds
½ cup pine nuts
½ tsp ground cinnamon
Lebanese salad, to serve

Cook's notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.

Instructions

The following recipe has been tested and edited by SBS Food and may differ slightly from the podcast.

Place the cinnamon stick, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 litre (4 cups) water in a medium-size saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, add the chicken and simmer gently for 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave the chicken to poach in the water for a further 7–10 minutes until cooked through. Drain, reserving the stock. When cool enough to handle, coarsely shred the chicken.

Preheat the oven to 180˚C.

To make the rice, place a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and onion and cook for 5 minutes until the onion softens. Add the lamb mince and cook, stirring regularly, for 10 minutes until the lamb just starts to brown. Stir in the rice, black pepper, mixed spices and the remaining teaspoon of salt and cook for 2 minutes, tossing to coat the rice. Add 625 ml (2½ cups) of the reserved chicken stock and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 10–12 minutes, until the rice is cooked.

Meanwhile, arrange the pine nuts and almonds on two separate oven trays. Transfer to the oven and cook the almonds for 6–8 minutes and the pine nuts for 3–5 minutes until lightly golden. Set aside.

To serve, place the rice mixture on a serving platter and cover with shredded chicken. Top with almonds and pine nuts and sprinkle over the cinnamon. Serve with salad.

Note
• Lebanese mixed spice is available from Middle Eastern food stores.

Photography by Alan Benson 

More from the Lebanese Recipes Kitchen:

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Crispy Falafel Chicken with Yogurt Salad Recipe
Stuffed Chicken Recipe
Chicken Tikka
Chicken with saffron, honey and macadamias recipe
Rice with Chicken and Tomatoes Recipe

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