Chicken and Sticky Rice Kapama

Tavuklu Kapama

 

A homey, all-in-one meal which makes a great family dinner. It’s also perfect for feeding the masses - just as easy to make in double or triple quantities.  But I guarantee you there will be none left.

 

2 cups     medium-grain rice (osmancik pirinç)

                boiling water

1L            water

1tbsp      salt

8              chicken drumsticks

1 tbsp     olive oil

1 lrg        onion, diced

1 can      tomatoes

1 tsp       chilli flakes (pul biber)

1/8 tsp   black pepper (karabiber)

1/8 tsp   cumin (kimyon), heaped

½ tsp      salt

½             bunch parsley (maydanoz), finely chopped, stems and all

1 tbsp     butter, melted

5              cherry tomatoes

PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 250C

 

1. Wash the rice, then cover with boiling water. Leave to soak 20min.

 

2. Bring your 1L of water to the boil, and dissolve the 1 tbsp of salt

(yes, I know that's a lot of salt). Add the chicken and boil for 20min.

 

3. Add oil to a medium frypan, and fry the onion until soft. Stir in the tomatoes, chilli flakes, black pepper, cumin , salt, and half of the parsley. Bring the  mixture to the boil, lower the heat and leave to simmer a few minutes.

 

4. Skim the scum off the top of the chicken, then drain the chicken RESERVING the chicken water.

 

5. Drain the rice, stir through the melted butter to loosen it up. Spoon into a medium-sized baking dish, and pour in enough of the reserved chicken water to almost come to the top of the rice.

 

6. Arrange the chicken drumsticks on top. Spoon the tomato sauce over the top, sprinkle with the remaining parsley, then garnish with the cherry tomatoes.

 

7. Place in the oven and bake for 40min. Serve with green beans and crusty bread.

 

 

SERVES 4