Yemeni Mandi Recipe
Mandi is a traditional Yemeni rice dish made with meat, usually lamb or chicken, cooked with aromatic spices.
Ingredients
- Lamb shoulder or chicken (cut into pieces) – 2 lb.
- Basmati rice – 2 cups
- Onion (sliced) – 1
- Garlic cloves (minced) – 4
- Ginger (grated) – 1 tbsp
- Black pepper (ground) – 1 tsp
- Cumin (ground) – 1 tsp
- Coriander (ground) – 1 tsp
- Turmeric (ground) – 1/2 tsp
- Cardamom pods – 4
- Cinnamon stick – 1
- Bay leaves – 2
- Salt – 1 tsp
- Olive oil – 2 tbsp
- Water – 4 cups
- Almonds – for garnish
- Raisins – for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse the basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add sliced onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger to the oil. Cook until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Add the lamb or chicken pieces to the pot and brown them on all sides.
- Once the meat is browned, add ground black pepper, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground turmeric, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and salt. Stir well to coat the meat with the spices.
- Pour water into the pot, covering the meat completely. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
- Cover the pot and simmer for about 1 hour, or until the meat is tender.
- While the meat is cooking, prepare the rice. In a separate pot, bring water to a boil. Add the rinsed basmati rice and cook according to the package instructions until it is tender and fluffy.
- Once the meat is tender, remove it from the pot and set it aside. Strain the cooking liquid to remove any solids and return it to the pot.
- Add the cooked rice to the pot with the strained cooking liquid. Stir well to combine, then cover the pot and simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the rice is heated through.
- To serve, place the rice on a platter and arrange the cooked meat on top. Garnish with almonds and raisins.
Nutrition
Calories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 7gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 412mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g
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