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Kabuni
Festive rice with raisins and cinnamon
Kabuni: Albanian festive rice cooked in lamb stock with butter, sugar, raisins and cinnamon
Kabuni is one of the oldest dishes of Albania, served in Tirana and the central lowlands at Bajram, weddings and wakes: rice fried in butter, cooked in a savoury lamb broth, then sweetened with sugar and studded with raisins and cinnamon. The result is buttery, gently sweet and fragrant, a sweet course with a savoury soul, eaten warm in small bowls. Because it is cooked in lamb stock it is not vegetarian. Where most people go wrong is skipping the frying of the rice; it is the toasting in butter that gives kabuni its nutty taste. Chef's tip: soak the raisins in hot water while the rice cooks so they swell and stay juicy.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz long-grain ricerinsed and drained
- 2 ⅞ oz unsalted butter
- 3 ½ oz sugar
- 2 ⅞ oz raisins
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Soak the 2 ⅞ oz raisins in the ¾ cup hot water for the raisins for 15 minutes, then drain.
15 minStep 2: Melt the 2 ⅞ oz unsalted butter in a heavy pan over a medium heat, add the 10 ½ oz long-grain rice and fry, stirring, for 6–8 minutes, until the grains turn opaque and light golden and smell nutty.
8 minStep 3: Pour in the hot 3 cups hot lamb or mutton stock (gluten-free), add the ¼ tsp salt, bring to a boil, then cover and cook on the lowest heat for 15 minutes, until the stock is absorbed.
17 minStep 4: Stir in the 3 ½ oz sugar, raisins, 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon and 1 pinch ground cloves gently with a fork.
2 minStep 5: Cover, transfer to a 350°F (325°F fan) oven or keep on the lowest heat for 15 minutes, until the top is glossy and the rice is soft. Serve warm with a little extra cinnamon.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 70 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kabuni take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of long-grain rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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