Kedreh in arabic means a small clay pot and this recipe takes on the name because it is traditionally cooked in those small clay pots in a wood oven.
The recipe can be made with chicken or meat..what really makes it special is the spices used in it and the fact that you use the water you cooked the chickpeas in to cook the meat in and then it is used to cook the rice giving the final dish layers of flavor. Having said that, you can make this with chickpeas from a can but you would really be missing out on a lot of the flavor. Chickpeas cooked at home taste way better that anything from a can and using the cooking water in this recipe infuses the meat and rice with more flavor.
Traditionally this recipe is made with loads of garlic. Up to 2 whole heads of garlic in a pot but I usually scale that down to 4 or 5 cloves.
You can also make this into a vegetarian recipe by omitting the meat all together, you will still get loads of flavor from the chickpeas spice combination.
1 cup chickpeas
1 1/2 cups short grain rice
1 onion chopped
4-5 peeled cloves garlic whole
250 grams beef cut into cubes (any cut you like)
water (or the water you cooked the chickpeas in)
2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 teaspoon all spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon cumin.
olive oil
In a pot , heat the olive oil add the meat and stir 4-5 minutes.
Add the spices except for the turmeric
Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil, cook untill the meat is done.
In another pot add a little olive oil, saute the onions and then add the rice, garlic cloves and the chickpeas followed by the turmeric
Add 3 cups of the meat broth along with the pieces of meat
Bring to a boil over medium heat then lower the heat and cover the pot.
Leave it on a low flame untill the rice absorbs all the water, turn off the heat and allow to stand for at least 10 minutes (I some times leave it up to 1 hour)
When you are ready to serve it,fluff the rice with a fork and serve it with a salad or some greek yogurt.
Enjoy
thebigfatnoodle
/ January 4, 2012wow! love this recipe cos I love chickpeas. Chinese people do a lot of claypot cooking too but I don’t own one myself. I hope a heavy cast iron pot can have the same effect. love your blog too, glad i found it.
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
/ January 8, 2012Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you’ll come back for more visits
Shumaila
/ July 10, 2011This sounds so interesting and good. I am going to try this soon. Bookmarking the recipe! Thanks!
Karen
/ July 9, 2011Hello, I just want to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. Everything sounds so wonderful but this recipe just talked to me. I definitely going to try this.
thefooddoctor
/ July 9, 2011Thank you so much Karen..your words mean alot to me…I can’t wait to hear what you think when you do try it
sheila @ Elements
/ July 6, 2011This looks fabulous! I love how you presented it, and it’s a meal that would be perfect for me and my husband! I want to try one day…without the meat. Thanks for sharing another wonderful recipe!
thefooddoctor
/ July 6, 2011Thank you Sheila…it is actually really good without the meat..can’t wait to hear what you think when you try it
Ginger
/ July 6, 2011Your photography is delightful! It has always been great but now it is beyond great! Have you gotten a new camera?
thefooddoctor
/ July 6, 2011Thank you so much Ginger..remember when my camera broke..a couple of months later I got a new camera and I am gradully learning how to use it ..your kind comment means alot
Nami @ Just One Cookbook
/ July 6, 2011Chickpea rice! Looks very savory and I love how you used it for rice dish! Your decoration is making this brown food look a lot nicer. I’m not very good with taking picture of brown object….
thefooddoctor
/ July 6, 2011I have my share of trouble with brown food..I really wish I could get my pictures to look as pretty as yours
ChefMom
/ July 5, 2011This looks delicious! I just learned that I LOVE chickpeas! And seriously – 1-2 heads of garlic?! I would be in heaven. I can easily eat that much garlic in one sitting. It’s absolutely one of my favorite foods. I might up the garlic if we make this.
thefooddoctor
/ July 5, 2011Chickpeas are amazing and so versatile..I use them in salads and main dishes and as a snack..and they are really good for you..
I really hope you’ll like this if you gave it a try
Caroline
/ July 4, 2011This sounds so delicious! I love how colorful the meal is too. Awesome photos, as usual.
thefooddoctor
/ July 4, 2011Thank you so much Caroline..it means a lot coming from someone as talanted as you are
Heidi @ Food Doodles
/ July 4, 2011That looks delicious! All the spices in it sound wonderful!
thefooddoctor
/ July 4, 2011Thank you Heidi ..you are too kind
Liz Weber Berg
/ July 4, 2011Your last photo is gorgeous! We love rice here, too…and always looking for new and flavorful dishes like this!
thefooddoctor
/ July 4, 2011Thank you Liz..glad you like it
myblogject
/ July 4, 2011This looks right up my street. Tonnes of Flavour and comfort food too.
thefooddoctor
/ July 4, 2011Glad you like it Holly
chicaandaluza
/ July 4, 2011Wow – looks amazing. We eat loads of chickpeas here in Spain and looking at this dish really reminded me of a lot of the rice (one pot type) dishes we use here. but then again, we do have so many arabic influences in Andalucia that it makes sense. I´m definitiely going to try this one as I know we´ll enjoy it!
thefooddoctor
/ July 4, 2011Thank you so much Tanya.. you are right..alot of the recipes you talk about seem familiar…the arabic influence shows through alot of them..
Ireally hope you’ll like this one
Tnyo
/ July 4, 2011This looks delicious, was looking for new recipes with rice.. Will definatly try this one!
thefooddoctor
/ July 4, 2011Glad I could help with one
hope to hear what you think when you try it
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
/ July 4, 2011Wow – this looks great! Cinnamon and Cardamom work so well together!
thefooddoctor
/ July 4, 2011They are 2 of a trio I always use that works beautifully tigether..cinnamon, cardamom and all spice
Maureen
/ July 4, 2011I can look at this photo, close my eyes and smell the fantastic aroma of those spices. This is my kinda dish! Delicious!
thefooddoctor
/ July 4, 2011spice aroma-therapy
fatisrecipes
/ July 4, 2011Too good. Too good.
thefooddoctor
/ July 4, 2011Thank you..thank you
Desserts In My Kitchen
/ July 4, 2011Looks very nice, and full of vibrant color. I like chickpeas. Your photos are amazing
thefooddoctor
/ July 4, 2011Thank you so much Cheryl..I really appreciate your kind words
Alejandra @ Mouthfuls and Morsels
/ July 4, 2011I love the cinnamon cardamom combination, so rich!
thefooddoctor
/ July 4, 2011Thank you Aljandra..I love it too..and use it often in savory and sweet dishes..
thank you for stopping by
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide
/ July 3, 2011Looks fluffy and light and has such great spices! This is just wonderful.
thefooddoctor
/ July 3, 2011Thank you Greg