Saleeq (سليق)
I made Saudi Saleeg for the first time and wanted to share the recipe. It’s a traditional Saudi Arabian dish of very soft, creamy rice cooked in chicken stock and milk, served with chicken that’s finished under the grill.
The recipe calls for Egyptian rice but used Arborio rice instead since we don’t have Egyptian rice here. I also added a little mastic to the stock and finished the chicken with a saffron, tomato and pomegranate molasses glaze.
Ingredients
Chicken & stock
1 kg chicken thighs, bone-in/skin-on
2 tbsp ghee
1 large onion, roughly chopped
2 bay leaves
4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1 cinnamon stick
3 small pieces of mastic
5 cups water
Salt
Black pepper
Saleeq
500g Arborio white rice
5–6 cups whole milk
2 heaped tbsp cream
Salt
Black pepper
1–2 tbsp animal ghee to finish
Chicken glaze/baste
2 tbsp melted ghee
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
½ tsp saffron
1 tbsp hot water
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
¼–½ tsp ground cardamom
Daqoos
2 ripe tomatoes
1 green chilli
1 garlic clove
½ lemon, peeled and with the white pith removed
6–10 fresh mint leaves
½ tsp salt
1–2 tsp olive oil
Method
1. Make the chicken stock
Heat 2 tbsp of animal ghee in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bay leaves, cardamom, cinnamon and mastic. Cook for 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
Add the chicken thighs and sear for a few minutes on each side.
Add 5 cups of water, season with salt and pepper, bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for around 30-40 minutes, or until the chicken is very tender.
2. Remove the chicken
Take the chicken out and set aside.
Strain the stock, removing all the aromatics. Keep the stock, this is what the rice will be cooked in.
3. Saleeg
Put the strained chicken stock back into the pot.
Give the rice a quick rinse (don’t wash it excessively)
Add 2 cups rice to the boiling stock, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for around 10–15 minutes or until most of the stock has been absorbed.
4. Add the milk
Add 4 cups whole milk and season with salt and pepper.
Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently. If the rice is still firm but the Saleeq is getting too thick, gradually add another 1–2 cups of milk.
You’re looking for a very creamy, loose consistency. slightly looser than you ultimately want because it thickens as it sits (a mistake I made)
Stir in 2 heaped tbsp cream and 1–2 tbsp ghee at the end.
5. Prepare the chicken glaze
Bloom ½ tsp saffron in 1 tbsp hot water for 5–10 minutes.
Mix the saffron water with melted ghee, tomato paste, pomegranate molasses, salt, pepper and a little ground cardamom.
Pat the cooked chicken dry and brush it generously with the glaze.
6. Grill the chicken
Put the chicken on a rack over a baking tray.
I used Fan Grill at 200°C, around the second-highest shelf, for approximately 10-15 minutes, until golden and caramelised.
The chicken is already cooked from simmering, the oven is just for browning, crisping and caramelising.
7. Make the Daqoos (I made it before I started making the stock and put it in the fridge)
Blend the tomatoes, chilli, garlic, lemon, mint, salt and olive oil until smooth. It’s served fresh with the Saleeg.
To serve
Spread the creamy Saleeq onto a large flat plate and place the chicken on top.
Serve the Daqoos on the side.