Rice

Somali Style Rice : Surbiyaan

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Surbiyaan is a popular Somali rice dish and it is every ones favorite. In this recipe I have used chicken paired with basmati rice, which is a must for this recipe. The rice is soaked, and boiled with water half way. Then the rice finished cooking with the chicken sauce which includes blend of spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, cloves, which give the dish an amazing flavor and fragrant.Then it is garnished with sauteed onion and raisin.

Somali Style Rice : Surbiyaan
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Ingredients
  1. 6 pieces chicken (Thighs & Legs )
  2. 3 cups basmati rice
  3. 5 cardamom pods, crushed
  4. 2 black cardamom
  5. 2 cinnamon sticks
  6. 5 peppercorn
  7. 1 onion, chopped
  8. 3 cloves
  9. 2 teaspoons cumin, powder
  10. 1 teaspoon ginger, powder
  11. 2 teaspoons coriander powder
  12. 1 teaspoon paprika/red pepper
  13. 2 teaspoon cilantro, chopped
  14. 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  15. 1/2 green pepper, chopped
  16. 1 cup yogurt
  17. 1/2 lemon
  18. two medium tomatoes, chopped
Instructions
  1. Clean and soak the rice with water and let it rest of 30 minutes.
  2. Fry the chicken with the oil until brown, add cardamom, black cardamom, cinnamon sticks, cloves, pepper corn.
  3. Add onions saute until brown then add garlic add tomatoes .
  4. Add the yogurt when tomatoes are tender.
  5. Then add the juice of a lemon, cumin, ginger, coriander, paprika and the cilantro.
  6. Let it simmer while covered on a medium heat until boil and then lower the heat for 10- 15 minutes.
  7. In another saucepan add the rice in boiling water cook until the rice is half done.
  8. Drain and add the rice to the chicken sauce and cook until the rice is tender on a medium heat covered, add the garnish.
For garnish
  1. 3 tablespoons oil
  2. 1 teaspoon food coloring
  3. 1/2 cup raisins
  4. 1 onion, sliced
  5. Heat the oil over medium heat, add the onion and fry until nice and brown. Add the raisins and cook until they puff up.
  6. Add this mixture over rice, add the food coloring on one side.
Mysomalifood https://www.mysomalifood.com/

60 Responses

  3. Ifrah

    I love your website, it looks so professional and well designed. However it would be so much more appreciated if you had videos that can guide people better ( I.e those who are more of visual learners or can’t read instruction well). I love what your are doing… Please keep it up!

  9. amina

    walal adoo mahadsan ma taqan sida lo sameyo NAFAQO ama batatiga dhexda ukunta ama hilibka shidan laga galiyo?

    mahadsanid

  11. Samira

    Salam, I like your new website, but I loved the other the one better, it had that warm feeling…… Is that time of the year again where I look at your website to learn new things and get some insperations…. I was just at your sister’s house yesterday and she cooked my mum and I Lamb Surbiyaan and it was delicious….. you guys are gifted with your cooking skills…. Everytime I attemp this it looks and taste more like Biryaani then Surbiyaan… I’ll keep practising!!! ;o)

  15. Fathia

    Thank you so much, you made really easy.

    and I am a person who never cooks, and I have made this dish. 🙂

  16. Amiira

    Salaam walal.

    Thanks for showing us, how we can. Really I’m learning something from you, and I’m a person who want to learn something new.

    Waxan ka codsanayaa hade suragaltahy ina dosha di somalia lagu samenjiray ama dolsha somali, ina nogu so darto sida losameyo tas aya iga maqan runti onan jeclan laha inan sameyo, thanks.
    by amiira from Norway!

  17. hana

    Asalamu Alikum
    I tried this but somehow didnt come out right, when you add the yogurt it becomes lumpy. Sis would you be able to upload a video of how to make this and your other recipes.

  18. mysomalifoodAuthor

    Hana thanks for trying the surbiyaan, the yogurt should be smooth try to mix it well, the videos are helpful and Insha Allah I have plans of uploading in the near future, in the mean time please be patient with me.

  19. Muggz

    Thanks for the recipe! Clarification, on the last direction point, am I mixing in the rice with the chicken sauce or which sauce are you referring to?

  21. hana

    Salaam,

    Sis can you please post pictures or video for this recipe. I’ve made it before and it has not turned out right, it was probably more like a biryani. Hope to make this during ramadan insha allah, Also, if you where to make it with lamb, can you you go through the same steps?

  25. aisha

    asalamualaykum, sister jazakallah khayr for this informative website. I enjoy your recipies, and look forward to trying them out. I have a request, can you please add a somali japatti recipie? Many thanks!

  26. mysomalifoodAuthor

    Wa Alaykum salaaam, thanks for stopping by, about the Somali jabati, you can find under breads as sabaayad there are few recipes. Let me know if that is what you are looking for.

  27. hana

    This is in my oven right now, will let you know how it tastes, hopefully this time it will be delicious insha allah

  29. hana

    Sorry for late reply, masha allah, it turned out really well! I think the reason why it didn’t turn out right at the beginning was because I skipped out some ingredients. Good to hear your working on the Lamb version, lol I was going to ask you for that recipe as I want to make it for Eid insha allah, thanks

  30. fay

    I always thought this was a south Yemeni dish but Indian influenced because in Yemen Indians make it and its called zurbiyaan

  32. mysomalifoodAuthor

    That is a good question, this dish is originated in Persia and it is a popular dish in South Asia called biryani, and also through out the world.
    We inherited this dish through trade, Aden former capital of Yemen was the life life back then. There are many versions of this type of rice and almost every one makes it differently but the idea is the same.

  33. Nawal

    I tryed to make it and it was very good!!! do you guys have a store I love to visit!! Thanks wallal!

  34. Abdi

    Surbiyaan is a somali dish from Saylac/Awdal Region. I love Surbiyaan its very good. But i have also heard about Surbiyaan with lamb?

  40. faiza

    salam, when are we adding green pepper? and also is it green bell pepper or green chillies? thanks for ur help. i am making this rite now. pls reply asap 🙂

  47. choukrie

    Salamaleikoum, sis i wonder if you Can tell me how to make estomac goat sauce with out potatos. Tank you d avance

  48. Ubah/happy

    Salaam,

    I just wanted to say thank you for putting this up. The steps were easy to follow (even for someone who is as bad at cooking as I am). It turned out beautifully and I’m sure my family will think so too! 🙂

  51. Jacki

    how many drops of food coloring? And red or should i make it orange? This looks delicious. I love Somali food.

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