Ruz al Bukhari Bil Dajaj
Bukhari Rice (known in Arabic as Ruz al Bukhari) is a Saudi Arabian speciality (some say it is Afghani by origin). It is by far one of my favourite Arabic meals and is a fragrant flavourful rice dish normally served with roast chicken (Dajaj). I usually serve this dish with Salata Hara (a fresh and spicy tomato sauce), some chopped fresh salad and a small side of fried potato cubes (because we certainly love potatoes in my home!) 🙂
Ingredients
Ingredients for chicken marinade
- 1 chicken skin removed and cut into 8-10 pieces - Marinate the chicken pieces for at least an hour or up to overnight in the ingredients below
- 1 tbsp. oil
- 1/2 tsp. garlic paste
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper powder
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar
- 1 tsp. paprika powder optional for some added colour
Other Ingredients
- 3 cups basmati rice
- 3 cups water
- 2 onions chopped
- 5 tbsp. oil
- 1/2 tsp. garlic paste
- 3 tbsp. tomato paste/puree
- 2 large tomatoes pureed or chopped into cubes
- 1 chicken bouillon cube like knorr or maggi but this is optional
- 1 large carrot cut into cubes
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves
- 2 cardamom pods
- 1 tsp. cumin powder
- 1 tsp. coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper powder
- pinch of cardamom powder
- some raisins
- 2 tbsp. melted butter
Instructions
- Wash and soak the rice for about 30 minutes.In the meantime, heat the oil in a pot, add the whole spices (cinnamon, cardamom and cloves). Then add the chopped onions and fry until transluscent. Do not brown them. Add the garlic and stir it in.Next, add the chicken pieces. Sprinkle the powdered spices (cumin, coriander, turmeric, cardamom and black pepper powders). Stir and allow the chicken to fry for a few minutes and get well coated with the spices until the chicken looks slightly golden.Add the thick tomato paste/puree and the freshly pureed/chopped tomatoes and some salt. Add the bouillon cube if you are using it. Cook for another couple of minutes then add the water. Bring to a boil and then immediately reduce the heat to low. Cover and allow the chicken to simmer gently in the water for 15 minutes.
- Once the 15 minutes are up, uncover and carefully remove the chicken pieces onto a baking tray or dish. Brush melted butter on the pieces of chicken and place the tray under a very hot grill for a few minutes to give a quick golden ‘roast chicken’ colour. If you do not have an oven, simply lightly fry the chicken pieces on a hot pan for some extra color. Do not overcook the chicken! When done, cover the chicken pieces and set aside.Now, carefully measure the broth that you have left in the pot. I normally need 1 1/4 cups of broth/water for every cup of rice that I use. If the broth is less than what you need, add some extra water. If it is more, then remove the excess.Add the carrot cubes into the broth and bring to a boil. Drain the soaked rice and add that in too, adjust salt.Let the rice cook on high heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Then reduce the heat to medium, cover the pot and allow the rice to cook until water dimishes, giving it a stir every now and then to make sure all the rice is cooked evenly and perfectly.When you find there is very little water left in the rice, reduce the heat to the lowest point possible. Place the roasted chicken pieces on top of the rice, then seal the pot tightly. Allow to steam for 10 minutes without uncovering.If you like, you can fry some golden raisins in a teaspoon of butter until they plump-up and keep them ready to sprinkle over the dish when served.Serve your fragrant Ruz Bukhari topped with lovely moist Dajaj, sprinkled with some raisins and the spicy Salata Hara for an authentic Arabic meal experience!!Enjoy! 🙂
Notes
Be sure to have the heat on low at this point if you want the chicken to be tender. High heat and a rolling boil will toughen the meat. Do not be tempted to simmer for longer than 15 minutes.
yummy i made it every one
yummy i made it every one loved it it was really like ruz bukhaari jazakallah khairana kaseeran kaseera 🙂
I made this today and it
I made this today and it turned out awesome. Wonderful and delicious dish Fauzia. Thumbs up.
Salam sister. May i know 1
Salam sister. May i know 1 cup is equal to how many grams? Its so confusion to me. Let me know pls?
W/Salaam, please use this
W/Salaam, please use this note as a reference: http://www.fauziaskitchenfun.com/my-measurements
Wats the diff between this
Wats the diff between this dish and Mandi/kabsa? Ingredients r the same we just cook chicken with r8ce at the end isent it
They do resemble as they are
They do resemble as they are both middle-eastern rice dishes but they have slight differences in flavour due to a few different ingredients. 🙂
Anyway u r an awesome cook
Anyway u r an awesome cook and person. The patience with which u ans all the queries is commandable. I did made Mandi and nobody beleived it i did it!!! Bcoz i cooked for the first time! U r that good at explaining. U r my angel May Allah S.W.T bless u always with health wealth peace and happiness. AMEEN.
Thank u vry much sis.
Thank u vry much sis.
before taking the chicken out
before taking the chicken out of the water,shouldnt we cook until oil sepretes from the masala (‘bhuna’). and then put water along with rice? im asking because of smell…? plz guide fauzia thank you
I did not understand your
I did not understand your question dear.
anyways i made it ,and it was
anyways i made it ,and it was great specially the tomato sauce ..thank you 🙂 my next target is biryani 🙂
Hi Fauzia,
Hi Fauzia,
Thanks for the wonderful recipes. Do I have to strain/sieve the broth before measuring and using it?
Hi, yes if it has any bits
Hi, yes if it has any bits and pieces you can strain it before using. 🙂
Hi Fauzia, I am planning to
Hi Fauzia, I am planning to make this dish for Eid ….. I would like to know, how much should the chicken weigh please?
Thanks a lot!
Hi, between 1kg to 1.5kg
Hi, between 1kg to 1.5kg would be ok.
Hi Fauzia, this dish looks
Hi Fauzia, this dish looks like an absolute delight. Planning to make this. Can you let me know on the cardamom, whether to use black or green.
Hi, thanks. Green cardamom.
Hi, thanks. Green cardamom.
Assalam o alekum. JazakAllah
Assalam o alekum. JazakAllah for such a yummy recipe.
This was not as good on its
This was not as good on its own, as it was with the Salata Hara sauce – yum! It totally enhanced the taste and flavour.
Also, the rice got slightly burnt from the bottom, making it pleasantly crispy. lol 🙂
This is the best explained
This is the best explained recipe iv ever foud. Great job Fauzia
hello there, any idea where
hello there, any idea where can i find a proper afghani hotel to dine in muscat,oman. I’m longing for ful & tameez and bhukari rice since the time i got here. plz help. thanks.
Hi, sorry never been to Oman.
Hi, sorry never been to Oman.
Hi Fauzia….
Hi Fauzia….
can i omit the chicken in this recipe and follow the rest of the things to make this rice? if i can please explain how to…. because i would like to make a separate chicken curry as a side dish..
Rice looks super tempting! 🙂 thank you.
Hi, yes you can omit the
Hi, yes you can omit the chicken but use some chicken stock in the rice to enhance its flavour. 🙂
pls give recipie for bbq
pls give recipie for bbq flavored rice.that is rice with charcoal grill flavour
.
tks
Will do inshaAllah.
Will do inshaAllah.