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Mandi
Main Courses & Grill

Mandi – chicken and rice with a hint of smoke

Mandi is the Yemeni rice dish that has won over the entire Arabian Peninsula – recognisable by its gentle smokiness.

19,90 €

Half a chicken, baked until the skin turns golden and crisp while the meat stays juicy and tender. It rests on fragrant spiced rice, carried by our house Dunya spice blend and a delicate, surprising note of smoke. Served with a fresh side salad and an aromatic sauce. A beloved dish of the Arabian Peninsula, full of warmth and depth.

Allergens
Tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecan, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia)

Price, photo and allergens come straight from our till and are always up to date.

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Mandi comes from the Hadhramaut in Yemen and is now one of the most popular dishes of all in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Emirates. Here in Mannheim, you can try it with chicken – or with lamb shank.

Where the smoke comes from

Traditionally, mandi is cooked in an underground oven: the meat hangs above the rice, its juices drip down, and the smoke from the embers drifts through both. That’s what gives mandi the smoky flavour that sets it apart from every other rice dish. We bake our chicken in the oven, and the subtle smokiness of the rice is a reminder of the original.

The spices

The rice is seasoned with our own Dunya spice blend. It’s there to support the chicken, not to overpower it. The skin turns crisp, the meat stays juicy, and it comes with a fresh side salad and a fragrant sauce.

Mandi, biryani, lamb: the differences

If you like it more heavily spiced, with vermicelli and almonds, go for the chicken biryani. If you’d rather have lamb, choose the lamb shank mandi, which also has raisins and nuts on the rice.

Before and after

Mandi is a big dish. A small starter is all you need beforehand – muhammara with bread, say, or a small tabbouleh. For family celebrations and company dinners, mandi is easy to prepare for lots of guests – get in touch about our catering.

FAQ

Good to know

Where does mandi come from?

From Yemen – the Hadhramaut region, to be precise. From there it spread across the whole Arabian Peninsula.

What’s the difference between mandi and biryani?

Mandi is all about the smoky flavour and a fairly simple, savoury rice. Biryani is more heavily spiced and comes with vermicelli, almonds and chickpeas.

Do you do mandi with lamb?

Yes – lamb shank mandi, which has raisins and toasted nuts on the rice.

Can I order mandi rice on its own?

Yes, a small portion of mandi rice is listed under the extras on our menu.

Is the meat halal?

Yes, all the meat at Dunya is halal.