•What is Chicken Mandi?Chicken Mandi is an aromatic and perfectly seasoned chicken and rice meal. Its flavor is unlike anything you’ve tried before, making it a must-try dish.The name “Mandi” means “dew” in Arabic, referring to the dewy, juicy texture of the chicken once it’s cooked using the traditional method1.
•Traditional Preparation:Mandi is traditionally cooked underground in Yemen. They dig a hole in the ground, fill it with hot coals, place a large pan of Mandi on top, cover it with sand, and let it slowly cook for hours. This method imparts a delicious smoky flavor to the dish.The underground tandoor oven used for this purpose is called a Tabloon2.
•Hawaij Mandi Spice Mix:Hawaij means “mixture” in Arabic. It’s the special Yemeni spice blend used to make Chicken Mandi.You don’t need to roast whole spices and grind them; if you have spices in powder form, just mix them up to create Hawaij.The spice mix typically includes ingredients like coriander seeds, cumin, cardamom powder, and black pepper3.
•Ingredients for Chicken Mandi:Chicken (or any other meat)Hawaij spice mixRiceOther pantry staple ingredients1
•Cooking Chicken Mandi at Home:My recipe simplifies the process, allowing you to achieve that classic, delicious flavor using your stove and oven.You’ll still get the dewy, juicy texture of the chicken without the need for an underground oven.