UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Chicken and Rice Porridge (Madrouba) and Fattoush with Lemon-Mint Dressing

The word madrouba comes from the Arabic word darb, which in translates to "to hit." This rice dish is not the texture of risotto or paella, rather porridge. To get the madrouba the proper consistency, you both overcook it and "hit" or, or more easily, mash it with a potato masher or spoon. This warming Middle Eastern porridge normally takes hours to do; it admittedly was not as simple as some of our One-World Whisk recipes, but thanks to the mashing method we did get it on the table in under 45 minutes. The lemon-mint dressing on the fattoush is amazing — a new family fave!

Chicken and Rice Porridge (Madrouba)

2 large chicken breasts, cooked*

2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of ghee or canola oil

1½ red onions

1 garlic clove, minced

1 cup of uncooked basmati rice

1 cup of chopped spinach

1 cup chopped cilantro leaves

½ cup chopped parsley leaves

2 tablespoons of tomato paste

1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes

1 teaspoon of cumin

½ teaspoon of cinnamon

½ teaspoon of turmeric

½ teaspoon of cardamom powder

1 teaspoon of Baharat spice

2 teaspoons table salt

1 teaspoon of black pepper

1 lemon, zested and juiced

*I bought a large rotisserie chicken, and used the breasts from that. If using raw chicken, poach the breasts in simmering water until cooked through, about 12-15 minutes.

1. In a large sauté pan or Dutch oven, heat the 2 tablespoons of ghee or oil over medium heal. Chop ½ of a red onion. Add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes.

2. Add the garlic, tomato paste, and all of the spices. Stir for 1 minute.

3. Add the rice, spinach, cilantro, parsley, and chopped tomatoes. Stir for 3 minutes.

4. Pour in 4 cups of water and raise heat to bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer mixture for 20 minutes, adding more water if the mixture starts to dry out. I typically add 3-4 additional cups.

5. While the rice is cooking, thinly slice the remaining 1 onion and sauté in the 1 teaspoon of ghee or oil over medium heat in a separate pan. Stir frequently until the onions caramelize to a golden-brown color. If they start to stick, add water. Set aside when done.

6. Shred the cooked chicken. When the rice is overcooked, add the shredded chicken, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Use a masher to break the rice and chicken into smaller pieces, creating a porridge texture. Simmer it in low heat for 5 more minutes.

7. Serve the chicken madrouba topped with the fried onions. Strained yogurt and pita make great accompaniments.

   
   

Fattoush with Lemon-Mint Dressing

1 lemon, zested and juiced

2 small clamshells or bunches fresh mint

¼ cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoons maple syrup

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 fresh pita bread, ~7” in  diameter (optional)

pinch of salt

1 medium head of Romaine

2 Roma tomatoes, chopped

2 Persian cucumbers, quartered and sliced

½ cup crumbled feta cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Place lemon, leaves from 1 bunch or clamshell of mint, ¼ cup olive oil, syrup, and mustard in a small food processor or blender. Blend until creamy.

3. Tear pita into bite-sized pieces and place directly onto a rimmed backing sheet. Toss with the 1 tablespoon of olive oil and spread into a single layer. Sprinkle with salt. Place in over until golden and crispy, about 8-10 minutes, tossing at the halfway mark. (If not using pita, the +1 tablespoon of olive oil is not needed either.)

4. Rip Romaine into bite-sized pieces. Tear in mint leaves from remaining bunch or clamshell of mint. Mix in veggies. Top with dressing and toss together until dressed. Top with toasted pita and gently toss to incorporate.

#zambezia #mozambique #grilledchicken #grilling #scrabble #travel #exploration 

FUN FACTS:

• Terminal 3 of the Dubai International Airport is the largest airport terminal in the world. It contains a 5-star hotel, multiple Apple stores, a swimming pool, a gym, a jacuzzi, and two zen gardens.

• Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world. It is equivalent to about 3 Eiffel Towers standing on top of each other.

• There are vending machines in the UAE that sell gold, in the form of gold coins and gold bars.