Southern

Chicken Madhbi on Stone

An authentic southern-style Madhbi recipe featuring chicken grilled over stones with an ember aroma, served alongside fragrant, spiced basmati rice.

1 h 25 min 4 servings 690 cal/serving Medium 6 views
Chicken Madhbi on Stone

Instructions

  1. Heating the Stones
    Thoroughly wash clean, smooth Madhbi stones with water and dry them completely. Arrange them at the bottom of a thick non-stick pot or heavy grilling pan and place over high heat for 15 minutes until the stones are piping hot. · 15 min
  2. Seasoning the Chicken
    Season the chicken halves with only the coarse salt, black pepper, and a pinch of turmeric, rubbing well into the skin and meat. Make slight lengthwise slits in the breast and thigh meat to help it cook faster. · 5 min
  3. Grilling the Chicken
    Place the chicken halves directly onto the hot stones, skin-side touching the stones first. Cover the pot tightly and let it cook over low to medium heat for 45 minutes, flipping to the other side halfway through, until completely cooked and nicely browned. · 45 min
  4. Sautéing Rice Aromatics
    In a separate pot, heat the ghee and add the chopped onion along with the whole spices (cardamom, cloves, cinnamon). Sauté until the onion softens and turns a light golden color. · 5 min
  5. Cooking the Rice
    Drain the soaked rice and add it to the pot, stirring gently for a minute until coated with ghee. Pour in the boiling water, adjust the salt, add the hot chili, and let it boil vigorously until the rice absorbs most of the water. · 7 min
  6. Steaming the Rice
    Lower the heat to low, drizzle the saffron-screwpine water mixture over the surface of the rice, then cover the pot tightly and let it steam for 15 minutes until fully cooked. · 15 min
  7. Serving
    Mound the rice onto a large serving platter, carefully remove the cooked grilled chicken from the stones and arrange it on top of the rice. Serve hot with daqqous sauce and yogurt.

Nutrition / serving

690
cal
49
protein g
65
carbs g
26
fat g

Chef's tips

For an authentic Madhbi flavor at home, use smooth river valley stones that will not crumble under high heat, and do not over-spice the chicken, as true Madhbi relies primarily on coarse salt and direct heat to highlight the chicken's natural flavor.