Chicken Mathbi (grilled on stones)

Recipe No.: G-5

Gulf120 minServes 6

Mathbi is a dish of southern Arabia in which meat or chicken is cooked on heated stones, so it comes out browned and not dry. It is said to have begun in mountainous regions such as Asir and Hadramawt where stones are plentiful, but no date of origin is known. By tradition it is seasoned with only salt and pepper.

Ingredients for Chicken Mathbi

• For the mathbi
• 1large chicken (about 1.5 kg), cut into 8 large pieces
• Coarse salt and ground black pepper (the traditional seasoning)
• 2 tbspghee or oil
• 4 to 6clean, smooth fist-sized stones (quartz or granite, non-porous), washed and dry
• To serve
• White rice, or whole-wheat bread with honey (as you prefer)
• Daqoos, green salad and lemon

Method

1. Rub the chicken with only salt, black pepper and ghee and leave for 30 minutes.
2. Heat the stones in a heavy pot over high heat for 30 minutes until very hot (avoid porous stones, which can crack).
3. Place the chicken directly on the hot stones, with a small cup of water in the bottom if needed, and cover at once.
4. Seal the lid with foil to hold in the heat and cook on low heat for 60 minutes without opening.
5. Take out the pieces and serve on white rice or bread with honey, daqoos and salad.

Try the interactive Chef Meerath on the main site · هذه الوصفة بالعربية