Skoudehkaris, national dish of Djibouti

Skoudehkaris can be prepared with lamb, beef, or goat, but I chose to cook it with chicken. This traditional dish combines fragrant rice with spices from the Arabian Peninsula and African influences. It's a family recipe, naturally gluten-free, that is readily shared during convivial meals. It's a simple but flavorful dish where the chicken and spices simmer gently to permeate the rice. This dish is balanced and complete, perfect for a dinner party. Its preparation doesn't require complicated techniques, just a little patience. Discover below the recipe for making Skoudehkaris with chicken like in Djibouti, in a light and modern version.

Preparation time 15 mins

Cooking time 25 mins

Total 40 mins

Cooking method: Ninja Foodi , Traditional

Difficulty: beginner

Servings: 4

Ingredients

500 g chicken (cut into pieces)
300 g basmati rice
2 chopped onions
4 peeled and diced tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic
2 Tbsp of vegetable oil
1 tsp cumin
1 stick or 1 tsp cinnamon
3 cardamom pods
2 cloves
1 tsp coriander
Salt and pepper
750 ml of chicken stock (gluten-free)

Preparation

1
Traditional cooking:
2
In a large pot, sauté the onion and garlic in the oil until golden.
3
Add the chicken pieces and brown them on all sides.
4
Stir in the chopped tomatoes, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, and cardamom. Simmer for 5 minutes.
5
Add the rice and pour in the hot broth: cover and cook for about 20 minutes over low heat or until the liquid is absorbed.
6
Remove from heat, let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
7
Serve hot, accompanied by a green salad or grilled vegetables.
8
Cooking a Ninja Foodi:
9
Sauté mode: Add oil to the bowl, add the onions and garlic. Sauté for 2–3 minutes.
10
Add the chicken pieces and brown them for 5 minutes on all sides.
11
Stir in the tomatoes, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, and cardamom. Simmer for 3 minutes to release the flavors.
12
Add the rice and mix well.
13
Pour in the hot broth, add salt and pepper. Mix.
14
PRESSURE Mode (Pressure Cook): Close the lid, select High for 2 minutes, delayed.
15
Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy!

Keywords: Djiboutian cuisine, traditional African dish, spiced rice, gluten-free African recipe, stewed chicken, Horn of Africa cuisine, Ninja Foodi recipe