Chicken kabsa, a delicious one-pot meal cooked in the Instant Pot…
Kabsa is the national dish of Saudi Arabia, flavored rice topped with crispy chicken. This is a perfect dish for special occasions. I made chicken kabsa in the Instant Pot, turned out absolutely delicious.
Chicken & basmati rice were pressure cooked separately, and the pressure-cooked chicken was further air fried in the Instant Pot air fryer. The chicken has a nice crispy outside & moist inside.
Since basmati rice was pressure cooked in the flavorful chicken gravy, the rice tasted extremely aromatic & packed with flavors.
Scrumptious chicken kabsa made effortlessly.
Cooking Video
Instant Pot Best Tasting Chicken Kabsa Recipe | Arabian Chicken & Rice
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Thasneen
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Arabian
Serves: 5 People
Ingredients
For cooking chicken
- Ghee- 3 tbsp
- Whole cardamom- 5
- Whole cloves- 3
- Whole cinnamon stick- 3 inch slice
- Dried bay leaves- 2
- Dry lemon- 2
- Onions, chopped- 2 (yellow onions)
- Ginger-garlic paste- 1 tbsp
- Green pepper, chopped- 1 cup
- Tomato puree- 1 cup
- Tomato paste- 3 tbsp
- Chicken legs or bone-in pieces- 8
- Water- ½ cup
- Coriander powder- 1 tbsp
- Ground cumin- 1 tsp
- Paprika- 1 tsp
- Cardamom powder- ½ tsp
- Cinnamon powder- ¼ tsp
- Ground black pepper- 1 tsp
- Salt- 1½ tsp
For making paste
- Paprika- 2 tsp
- Ground black pepper- ½ tsp
- Olive oil- 1½ tbsp
For cooking rice
- Basmati rice- 2½ cups
- Chicken gravy- 2½ cups
- Hot water- ½ cup
- Salt- ½ tsp
For garnish
- Roasted cashew nuts or almonds- ¼ cup
- Cilantro or parsley- 2 tbsp
Instructions
- For making tomato puree, add 2 chopped tomatoes to a blender jar & puree till smooth, keep it aside.
- Soak the basmati rice in 3½ cups water for 20 minutes.
- Bone-in chicken has to used for making this dish, I've taken 8 chicken legs.
- Turn on the Instant Pot.
- Select saute setting, at normal temperature.
- Let the stainless steel pot turn hot.
- Add ghee & add the whole aromatic spices- cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, dried bay leaves & dry lemon. Saute for 2 minutes.
- Add onions, ginger-garlic paste, season with 1½ tsp salt. Combine well & saute for 2 minutes.
- Add the tomato puree, cook for 2 minutes.
- Add tomato paste, mix well & cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken (skinned or with skin), combine with the gravy.
- Add the spices: coriander powder, cumin powder, paprika, cardamom powder, cinnamon powder & ground pepper.
- Combine well, add ½ cup hot water.
- Ensure the pot hasn't turned brown, combine well.
- Close the pot with the lid.
- Cancel saute setting, select pressure cook setting. Set the time to 10 minutes at high pressure.
- After 10 minutes of pressure cooking, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes & then do a quick pressure release.
- Open the lid.
- Perfectly pressure cooked chicken along with an amazing gravy.
- Next, let's air fry the pressure cooked chicken.
- I've used my Instant Pot duo crisp & air fryer, any kind of air fryer can be used.
- Or grill the chicken, or bake int the oven for 10 minutes at 400 F or 200 C.
- Place the stainless steel pot in the instant pot, place the air fryer basket & broil tray.
- Grease the broil tray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Arrange the chicken on the tray.
- In a bowl, combine paprika, ground pepper & olive oil, make into a paste.
- Spread the paste over the chicken.
- Close the pot with the lid.
- Select air fry, set time to 10 minutes, temperature 400 F or 200 C.
- After 10 minutes of air frying, transfer the air fried chicken to a plate & cover with aluminum foil will stay warm.
- The gravy that's left in the pot is very flavorful.
- Save 1 cup of the gravy in a bowl, keep it aside.
- Rinse the soaked basmati rice in water taken in a strainer.
- I've measured the gravy to be precise, 2½ cups gravy.
- Added additional ½ cup water.
- Add 2½ cups basmati rice.
- Add ½ tsp salt, combine well.
- Close the pot with the lid.
- Select pressure cook setting. Set the time to 6 minutes at high pressure.
- After 6 minutes of pressure cooking, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes & then do a quick pressure release.
- Open the lid.
- Flavorful & aromatic basmati rice is ready.
- If the rice on the top is crispy, combine the rice well & keep it covered for 10 minutes, the rice will turn soft.
- Spread the rice on a platter, top with the air fried chicken.
- Garnish with roasted cashew nuts or almonds, raisins can also be added & chopped cilantro.
- While serving, pour some gravy over the chicken & enjoy.
