Chicken Kabsa

A traditional Arabian rice dish packed with bold flavor and heritage. Our Chicken Kabsa features tender, slow-cooked chicken layered over fragrant basmati rice, infused with a blend of warm spices, tomatoes, dried lime, and saffron.

Bold, warm, and beautifully spiced, Chicken Kabsa is a majestic dish that captures the essence of traditional Arabian cuisine—an emblem of hospitality, celebration, and home-cooked comfort. At Chef Prestige Gourmet, our Chicken Kabsa brings this heritage to life with authentic flavors, vibrant ingredients, and refined presentation.

The dish begins with tender, bone-in chicken, marinated in a blend of Middle Eastern spices—including cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, and black pepper—then slowly braised to juicy perfection in a richly layered tomato-onion base. What sets Kabsa apart is its masterful use of kabsa spice mix, which infuses every component with earthy warmth and subtle depth.

The chicken is nestled into long-grain basmati rice, which is cooked in the same aromatic broth. This ensures the rice absorbs every drop of flavor from the meat, vegetables, and spices—turning every grain into a vessel of savory goodness. Add to that a touch of loomi (dried black lime) and saffron, and you get a rice dish that is both comforting and complex.

Once assembled, the chicken is either grilled or oven-roasted for a golden finish and served atop the steaming, spiced rice. Garnished with fried onions, raisins, toasted almonds, and slivered carrots, Chicken Kabsa becomes a visual and culinary feast.

Often served with dakkous (a zesty tomato-garlic sauce) and cool yogurt raita, this dish is perfect for family feasts, special occasions, or anyone seeking a hearty taste of the Gulf.

price: 35 DHS
Preparation Time: 50 Min

For the Chicken Marinade:

  • 1 whole chicken (cut into pieces) or 4 leg quarters

  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

  • 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

  • 1/2 tsp turmeric

  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

  • Salt to taste

For the Rice:

  • 2 cups basmati rice (soaked 30 minutes)

  • 4 cups chicken stock or water

  • 1 onion (thinly sliced)

  • 2 tomatoes (chopped)

  • 2 tbsp tomato paste

  • 1 dried black lime (loomi)

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 3–4 cloves

  • 2–3 green cardamoms

  • 1 small cinnamon stick

  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds

  • Salt to taste

  • 2 tbsp oil or ghee

For Garnish:

  • Fried onions

  • Roasted almonds or pine nuts

  • Raisins (lightly sautéed)

  • Fresh coriander

  • Saffron (optional, soaked in warm milk)

  • Grated carrots (lightly sautéed or steamed)

Accompaniments:

  • Dakkous (spicy tomato salsa)

  • Cucumber-yogurt raita

  • Lemon wedges

Chicken Kabsa

Chicken Kabsa

price: 35 DHS
Preparation Time: 50 Min

For the Chicken Marinade:

  • 1 whole chicken (cut into pieces) or 4 leg quarters

  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

  • 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

  • 1/2 tsp turmeric

  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

  • Salt to taste

For the Rice:

  • 2 cups basmati rice (soaked 30 minutes)

  • 4 cups chicken stock or water

  • 1 onion (thinly sliced)

  • 2 tomatoes (chopped)

  • 2 tbsp tomato paste

  • 1 dried black lime (loomi)

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 3–4 cloves

  • 2–3 green cardamoms

  • 1 small cinnamon stick

  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds

  • Salt to taste

  • 2 tbsp oil or ghee

For Garnish:

  • Fried onions

  • Roasted almonds or pine nuts

  • Raisins (lightly sautéed)

  • Fresh coriander

  • Saffron (optional, soaked in warm milk)

  • Grated carrots (lightly sautéed or steamed)

Accompaniments:

  • Dakkous (spicy tomato salsa)

  • Cucumber-yogurt raita

  • Lemon wedges