Recipe: Qabali Palau
Description: This is the national dish of Afghanistan.  In this version, stewed chicken is covered with a savory fried rice and garnished with carrots, raisins, and almonds.  From justfoodnow.com.
Ingredients: [{"text": "1 1/2 cups basmati rice"}, {"text": "3 tablespoons olive oil, divided"}, {"text": "1 onion, finely diced"}, {"text": "1 lb skinless chicken drumsticks or 1 lb skinless chicken thigh"}, {"text": "1 cup chicken stock"}, {"text": "1 carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks"}, {"text": "1/2 cup raisins"}, {"text": "1/3 cup slivered almonds"}, {"text": "1 tablespoon sugar"}, {"text": "salt"}, {"text": "fresh ground black pepper"}, {"text": "1 teaspoon ground cumin"}, {"text": "1 teaspoon ground cardamom"}, {"text": "7 cups water"}, {"text": "salt"}, {"text": "fresh ground black pepper"}]
Instructions: Preheat oven to 475 degrees F; rinse rice well, to remove much of the starch, and set aside to drain.
Add 2 tablespoons oil to a large saucepan and saute onions over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent burning, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Add chicken to the pot, season with salt and pepper, increase heat to medium high, and brown on all sides, about 6 minutes.
Add 1/2 cup of the stock, stir until it all but evaporates, then add another 1/2 cup, bring to a boil, cover, and simmer until sauce becomes dark brown, 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in another saucepan simmer carrot sticks until they turn darker orange, 10 minutes; drain off the liquid, toss with a tablespoon of oil, the raisins, almonds, and sugar for 3 to 4 minutes, then pack in an aluminum foil pouch.
Remove the chicken to a plate; stir in cumin, cardamom, and pepper and cook 5 minutes.
In a Dutch oven, bring water to a boil; add rice and boil until almost al dente, then strain and return to the Dutch oven.
Add the seasoned broth (from the cooked chicken), then nestle the chicken on top of the rice, and the sealed packet of carrots.
Cover and bake for 15 minutes; turn oven down to 350 degrees F and bake another 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and place chicken on a serving platter; cover with the rice, then open the carrot packet and sprinkle contents over top.
