Bowl of Omani chicken one-pot rice on a table garnished with fresh herbs

Machboos (Omani chicken one-pot rice)

Name: Machboos (Omani chicken one-pot rice)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 15 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 6 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 onion , chopped; 3 garlic cloves , or 1 tbsp garlic paste; 2 cinnamon sticks; 8 cardamom pods; 3 tsp baharat spice mix; 2 green chillies , halved or roughly chopped (optional); 2 dried limes; 2 tbsp tomato purée; 1-1.5kg whole chicken , cut into 8 pieces, skin left on or removed according to your preference; 3 tomatoes , finely chopped; ½ red or green pepper , chopped; 600g basmati rice; 50g blanched almonds (optional); 10g coriander , finely chopped; ½ pomegranate , seeds only (optional)

Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:20 mins
- Cook:1 hr and 15 mins
Easy
Serves 5 - 6

Ingredients

6 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, or 1 tbsp garlic paste
2 cinnamon sticks
8 cardamom pods
3 tsp baharat spice mix
2 green chillies, halved or roughly chopped (optional)
2 dried limes
2 tbsp tomato purée
1-1.5kg whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces, skin left on or removed according to your preference
3 tomatoes, finely chopped
½ red or green pepper, chopped
600g basmati rice
50g blanched almonds (optional)
10g coriander, finely chopped
½ pomegranate, seeds only (optional)

Method

STEP 1
Heat 3 tbsp of the oil in a large pan over a low-medium heat and fry the onion for 5 mins until turning slightly brown at the edges. Add the garlic, spices, chillies (if using) and dried limes. Stir well and fry for 2-4 mins, then stir in the tomato purée.
STEP 2
Lay the chicken pieces in the pan and sear for 6-10 mins on each side, then add the tomatoes and pepper, followed by 1 litre of water. Season with a pinch of salt, then increase the heat to medium-high. Cover with a lid and leave to bubble for 20 mins until the chicken is cooked through.
STEP 3
Once the chicken is cooked, add the rice along with the remaining oil. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting, then securely wrap a clean tea towel around the pan lid and put it on top of the pan – this will help create more steam and make the rice extra fluffy. Leave to cook for 20 mins.
STEP 4
Meanwhile, toast the almonds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 5 mins until golden.
STEP 5
Once the rice is cooked, divide the machboos between four plates. Scatter over the toasted almonds and finish with a sprinkling of coriander and pomegranate seeds.