 Chicken mandi | |
| Course | Lunch or dinner |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Yemen |
| Region or state | Hadhramaut |
| Main ingredients | Rice,meat (lamb orchicken),saffron and a mixture ofHawaij[1] |
Mandi (Arabic:مندي) is an Arab traditional dish that originated from theHadhramaut region inYemen.[2] It consists mainly of meat and rice with a blend of spices, and is cooked in apit. It is consumed in most areas of theArabian Peninsula and also found inEgypt,Hyderabad Deccan (where many people of Yemeni descent live), theLevant,Turkey,Kerala andSoutheast Asia.
The word "mandi" comes from theArabic word "nada" (ندى), meaning "dew", and reflects the moist 'dewy' texture of the meat.[3]
Mandi was usually made fromrice,meat (lamb,camel,goat orchicken), and a mixture ofspices calledhawaij. The main technique that differentiates mandi from other meat dishes is that the meat is cooked in thetannour.
Dry wood (traditionallysamer orgadha) is placed in the tandoor and burned to generate heat turning the wood into charcoal.
The meat is then boiled with whole spices until tender, and the spiced stock is then used to cook thebasmati rice at the bottom of the tandoor. The meat is suspended inside the tandoor above the rice and without touching the charcoal. After that, the whole tandoor is then closed with clay for up to eight hours.
Mandi has transcended its Yemeni roots and is now popular in many parts of the Arabian Peninsula, includingSaudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt. It is also eaten in regions such as theLevant, Turkey, and South Asia, where it is known as "kuzhi mandi" inKerala, India. Each region often incorporates local spices and cooking methods, leading to unique interpretations of the dish.
InYemen, mandi is traditionally served on large communal platters and often accompanied by a tangy tomato sauce, known as zahawig in Yemen or dakoos in Saudi Arabia, which enhances the dish's flavors. Salatah, a fresh vegetable salad, is also commonly served alongside mandi, providing a contrast to the flavors of the meat and rice.[4][5]
