Arabian National Dish – Kabsa Dejaj (Chicken)

Growing up in KSA this used to be our dinner almost every Friday. Khabsa - A mixed rice dish commonly regarded as a national dish in countries of the Arabian peninsula. Every Friday my Dad & I used to get Khabsa Dajaj (Chicken Khabsa) from a nearby Yemeni Restaurant. I still remember the roadside restaurant selling the yummiest Khabsa with 2 types of special sauce/raita (Salata Hara & Sattah). One could easily spot the restaurant by the aroma of the perfectly charred/grilled chicken from miles away! Khabsa Rice has a very subtle flavor of mixed aromatic arabian spices, nothing overpowering, nothing extra. Cooked in chicken or lamb broth and topped with the same meat charred or grilled. This Yemeni Chicken Khabsa, cooked by my mother and plated by me, draws inspiration from traditional Khabsa presentations. Reflecting Arabian hospitality, it's customary to share this dish communally from a large platter while gathered on the floor with friends and family.