Rice with Vegetables (Banan’s Rice)

Hello everybody.

Today I had the honor to cook for my big brother’s office colleagues. Each one of them hosts lunch each Sunday so I volunteered to cook in his turn. They’re a group of 20-24 plus the boss is coming today from abroad. Feedback was great thank God ♡
Though I ran a bit out of time and I think rice needed a bit more cooking
Well my bro sent me this photo in less than an hour after I delivered food.

Wiped out he wrote !!!!!

I got this rice recipe from our dear neighbor when I was a newlywed. Been doing it a lot specially when I have guests..that’s why it became my specialty Banan’s Rice my cousins always say.
I also made caramelized kebab sandwiches with tahini sauce and spiced potatoes. Dessert was basic orange cake and jam biscuits (مبروشه ).
I will post ingredients without specifying amounts cause today I cooked for a big crowd, you can measure according to number of people you’re cooking for. I’m ready for any question of course if anyone needs help.

Ingredients and method:
* large boned chicken pieces.
* basmati rice.
* vegetables include: peas, carrots, mushrooms, peppers and onions.
* raisins.
* almonds and pine nuts.
* ghee or margarine.
* curry powder, salt, pepper, paprika.
* bay leaves, cinnamon sticks and cardamom for chicken broth.

* first you clean and wash chicken pieces very well.
* make broth from wings backs and necks of chicken by boiling them with salt, pepper, all spice, cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaf plus 1 big spoon curry powder. When done sieve and use broth for cooking rice.
* add same seasoning to breasts and drumsticks with some olive oil and chopped onions and put in a medium heated oven for 2 hours or till tender and golden..also sprinkle them with curry and paprika.

* now prepare veggies, saute them alternatively ( except onions) with ghee starting with carrots then adding others always sprinkle with curry then add raisins last thing. You can add maggi cube with them, gives a really good flavor but for those who don’t like it add salt and spices. Leave to simmer on low heat.
* in another pan saute sliced onions in ghee then add a bit of broth and leave to simmer till tender.
* wash rice and season it with salt, pepper, all spice and curry powder.
* add to onions, mix all together then add broth till covering rice by 1 inch.
* cook rice and when almost all broth absorbed pour it over vegetables then leave all to cook together on very low heat till rice is done.
* you may need to add a bit more broth or water.
* roast almonds and pine nuts for decoration.
* upon serving turn vegetables and rice pan upside down in a big wide serving tray.
* arrange chicken pieces on top.
* decorate with almonds and pine nuts.

I know this might be a difficult dish with many steps but it’s always worth the hardship. ♡♥

always a success.

all veggies are sprinkled curry.

steps to cook the rice.

enjoy.

Freekeh with Chicken. ( فريكه )

Hello everybody.
As I mentioned earlier today we’re having a big lunch, friends and relatives coming.

My mother in law made freekeh with chicken among other things.
Freekeh is a roasted green wheat, meaning wheat is harvested when still green and roasted outdoors on a big fire. Very healthy and nutritious. I even saw an old episode of Dr. Phill today by coincidence advising people to eat it cause of its many benefits.
Freekeh is mainly done with roasted chicken on top and cooked with the chicken broth.served with salad or yoghurt.
Quantities depends upon how many people you’re serving.

Ingredients and method:
* chicken cut to big pieces ( with bones)
* 3 cups freekeh.
* seasoning for making chicken broth : salt, pepper, all spice, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom and onions.
* ghee or margarine.
* roasted almonds and pine nuts for decorating.

* Make chicken broth by cleaning chicken very well, sautee them till excess water is dry ,add all seasoning and water then leave to boil till done.

You can do this only with the wings, back and neck of chicken then discard them and use broth.
* As for breasts and thighs, rub them well with salt , pepper and olive oil and put them over a bed of coarsely chopped onions in a big oven tray. Cover with foil paper and cook them in the oven for 1 1/2-2 hours.then roast till golden.
* wash freekeh very well,make sure you look through it before cause usually you might find some small stones or dirt specially if bought directly from farms.
* saute them with ghee then add to each cup of freekeh 1 1/2 cup of broth.
* you may add some salt according to your liking.
* leave to cook on high heat till it absorbs most of broth.
* lower heat to minimum and leave covered to cook slowly for 1 hour or a bit more till it’s done.
* serve in big wide plate with roasted chicken, almonds and pine nuts on top.

Yummy yummy :).

Chicken Fatteh (فته دجاج )

Hello everybody.
Kids been telling me since last week to make fatteh for lunch. I waited for a day when I’m sure everybody is home at lunchtime cause it cannot be heated and must be eaten directly or else bread inside will be soft.
This dish is mostly served as an appetizer in restaurants or big lunches but I usually make it as a main dish,it’s rich, fulfilling and kids love it so fair air enough, no need for more .
Ingredients and method:

* 1 chicken, whole or only breasts as you wish. cooked till done with usual spices (salt, pepper, cinnamon, all spice, bay leaf, cloves, onion).
* fried bread cubes.
* rice cooked in chicken broth and spices.
* tahini sauce (tahini, yoghurt, lemon juice, salt).
* finely chopped parsley and roasted pine nuts for decorating.
* boil chicken in water and spices till done. Keep the broth.
* cook the rice as usual but use a bit of broth when making it and add spices to make it more flavored like all spice, cinnamon, cardamom according to taste.
* Assemble the fatteh by layering bread, rice, chicken pieces, sprinkle hot sieved broth so that bread is a bit tender. Then add tahini sauce.
* Garnish with parsley and pine nuts.
* You can add crushed garlic to tahini sauce if you like.