Afghanistan Qabuli Palow Kabuli Pulao Food

AFGHANISTAN: QABULI PALOW (KABULI PULAO)

Steps:

• Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter in a large sauce pan or dutch oven. Add the chicken pieces and fry until golden brown, turning throughout to cook evenly. Season with salt, pepper, 1/2 tsp cumin and garam masala. Add 5 cups water, or a bit more to just cover the chicken, and bring to a lower boil. Simmer for 15 minutes, then remove chicken and set aside on a plate.
• Take 2 Tbsp broth and put in a small cup with saffron to create a saffron infused broth.
• In a separate skillet, heat 1 Tbsp olive oil. Add onion and stir occasionally until soft. Add cardamom, cumin, freshly ground black pepper & saffron liquid and mash a little bit. Add about 1 cup of the chicken stock; simmer for 5 minutes and taste for seasoning.
• Meanwhile, bring the broth back to a boil. Lower temperature to medium-low and cook the rice in it for 8 minutes - it should be softened but not all the way cooked through.
• Stir the onion mixture and the chicken into the rice. Return to low heat, adding water as needed to ensure the rice cooks the rest of the way without burning, but not too much - you don't want it mushy.
• Toast the raisins and almonds in a small skillet for about 2 minutes on each side, careful not to burn.
• In a separate skillet, heat 1 tbsp butter and add the shredded carrots. Add sugar, and stir to melt. Let cook until tender, stirring regularly. Add salt to taste.
• To serve, transfer rice to a large serving plate. Top with carrots and sprinkle with almonds and raisins.

AFGHANI KABLI PULAO

Steps:

• Soak the rice in cool water for 5 minutes. Rinse until water runs clear.
• Place 4 cardamom pods on a cutting board and lightly crush using the flat side of a knife; transfer to a pressure cooker. Add halved onion, garlic head, 4 cloves, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon cumin seed, salt, sugar, cinnamon stick, paprika, and coriander seeds. Pour in water to cover.
• Seal pressure cooker lid and turn heat to high. Cook until pressure cooker whistles once, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Wait for 2 more whistles, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow pressure to release naturally, about 10 minutes.
• Strain broth into a bowl. Clean out the pressure cooker and heat it over medium heat. Add oil and chopped onion; cook and stir until softened and browned, about 7 to 10 minutes. Add carrots; cook until soft, about 3 minutes more. Add raisins, almonds, and strained rice. Add remaining 1 teaspoon black pepper, remaining 1 teaspoon cumin seed, and remaining clove.
• Crush remaining cardamom seed to a powder and add to the pressure cooker. Mix to combine; pour in enough broth to cover the rice.
• Increase heat to high and seal the pressure cooker. Cook until the first whistle, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Cook for 5 minutes and remove from heat. Let rest for 7 minutes; release the pressure naturally, about 10 minutes. Transfer cooked rice to a serving dish immediately to prevent overcooking.

AFGHANISTAN: KABULI PULAO

Steps:

• Saute the carrots and raisins in butter. Set them aside.
• Heat about a tablespoon of oil in a medium sized pan and cook the onions until translucent. Then add the rice and broth, bring to a boil, cover and cook for 20 minutes until the rice is tender.
• Add the spices to hot oil and cook for a few seconds, until fragrant. Then add the meat and saute until just done.
• Place the meat in an oven-safe dish, then cover it with the rice and bake at 250 degrees for 20 minutes.

CHICKEN KABULI PULAO (AFGHANISTAN)

Steps:

• Place chicken pieces, onions and hot water in a large pot.
• Cover and simmer for about 1 hour.
• Add salt to taste.
• Remove chicken, reserving stock & discard cooked onions.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Heat 2 tbs of the butter over medium high heat and fry chicken pieces containing bones, salting as needed.
• Boil a large amount of water with sea salt and cook the rice in it for exactly 8 minutes. Set aside in a pot until ready to assemble.
• Make stock sauce:
• Brown onions in butter and remove from heat.
• Add cardamom cumin, freshly ground black pepper & saffron liquid and mash with onion to form a paste.
• Add about 1/2 pt of the chicken stock; simmer for 5 minutes and taste for seasoning.
• Combine cooked rice, stock sauce as needed (I don't find it became a sauce so I added the onion paste with some broth as needed to finish cooking the rice) and chicken; place in a buttered casserole. Cover.
• Fry carrot matchsticks in 1/2 tbs butter and add dark raisins to them at the very end.
• Sprinkle partially cooked carrot matchsticks and raisins on top of chicken and rice and cover tightly with aluminum foil or cover.
• Place in oven for 35 minutes.
• Chopped toasted pistachios or slivered almonds may be added over the dish just before serving if so wished.
• There most probably will be left over stock that is very good even as a soup on it's own and probably served that way in an Afghani household.
• Enjoy!