Thursday 30 March 2017

Hainanese Or Lebanese?


When it comes to chicken rice, Hainanese Chicken Rice immediately pops into my head. So I was very amused to see this Lebanese Chicken Rice, a one pot meal which is delicious and full of aromatic spices.

It gave me a chance to use the allspice that I bought to make Jerk Chicken (which hasn't happened yet). Cooking this chicken rice made me think of the Ricepot Chicken Rice which I haven't cooked in a long time.


This exotic recipe comes from Chef Wan's Simply Sedap and is another one of the many recipes that I bookmarked to try. 

The recipe calls for canned Italian tomatoes but let me tell you that I do not like canned tomatoes. To me, the smell and taste is awful >.<

I once threw out a pot of stew because I could not accept the taste imparted by the canned tomatoes. So, no more canned tomatoes for me. For this recipe, I just added an extra tablespoon of tomato puree.


Just like the Jamaican Beef Pilaf that I cooked previously, this made for many portions which I kept frozen in my trusty freezer.

Lebanese Chicken Rice
Recipe source : Adapted from Simply Sedap (page 52)

Ingredients :
- 400g chicken pieces
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp allspice
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt

- 1/4 cup blanched almonds
- 1 big onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1" cinnamon stick
- 3 cardamoms
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 3 tbsp tomato puree
- 1 tsp salt

- 1/2 cup raisins
- a handful of coriander leaves, chopped (and more for garnishing)

- 2 cups basmati rice, soaked for 10 minutes and rinsed
- 3 cups water (or chicken stock)

- Enough Olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter

Method :
1. Marinate chicken with cinnamon powder, black pepper, allspice, paprika and salt overnight (or a few hours).
2. Heat oil and butter in pan and fry almonds until brown, Set aside.
3. In the same oil, fry the marinated chicken until browned. Set aside.
4. Add more oil if necessary and saute onions, garlic, cinnamon, cardamoms and bay leaves until onion start to caramelize.
5. Add tomato puree, salt and chicken. Stir to mix evenly.
6. Add rice, raisins and coriander leaves.
7. Transfer to rice cooker and cook as you would usually do.
8. Once cooked, fluff the rice and garnish with fried almonds before serving.

30 comments:

  1. i am salivating over how tasty your rice look, especially with the almonds and raisins.

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  2. Arghhhhhh!!!! My comments keep disappearing! :(

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  3. A one pot rice. I like that. I cooked once.

    I never try Lebanese chicken rice. Yours looked good.

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  4. Looks delicious with those nice plump almonds.

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    1. Those almonds were a wonderful addition.

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  5. I've seen cooking shows putting canned tomatoes into their recipes and they look so fresh and juicy. I didn't know that they smell and taste awful as I've never used it myself. When I saw your Lebanese Chicken Rice, I thought it looked familiar and then I reached the end of your post and you mentioned Jamaican Beef Pilaf Rice. You're taking us around the world to Lebanon and Jamaica?....thank you...kekeke! :D

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    1. The canned tomatoes have a very strong smell :( Fresh is loads better.

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  6. Wow..something very different.... Lebanese rice, I never tasted it before..

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  7. High Five Phong Hong. I don't like canned tomatoes too. I prefer used fresh tomatoes or ketchup better still. This Lebanese Chicken Rice got so much "liu" inside.

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    1. High 5 Angeline! So I am not the only one :)

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  8. Lovely one pot meal! Looks like Biriyani.... shall be trying it soon. Thanks.

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    1. Hope you like it because it's delicious!

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  9. i can imagine the fragrance and flavour and textures of this ... would be my ideal dinner right now! :)

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    1. It's a wonderful one pot dish. Pretty much comfort food too.

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  10. You got me thinking over about the canned tomatoes. I used to buy them just to add them to thicken my spicy hot salsa sauce dips. I didn't have issues with the canned tomatoes and that could be the brands or expiry that made the difference(?)

    I have eaten some Middle Eastern Fried rice and they looked tasty like yours. They go well with any curries!

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    1. I tried a Middle Eastern restaurant in Bukit Bintang once. I loved the food!

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  11. Your Lebanese chicken rice looks so delicious and makes me think of eating supper now! I think I will look for nasi briyani tomorrow. He he!

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    1. Nasi briyani is a good substitute hee..hee...

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  12. Different betul dpd Chicken Rice yg biasa tu ye LL....Mcm Nasi tomato dah ni. Rasanya buat mcm ni lagi senang 3 in 1..... Sekali lenur je dalam nasi haha

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    1. Betul, Hainom. PH suka resipi yang 3 in 1 pakat lebur2 gitu hah..hah..

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