Facts About Cabidela
Cabidela or arroz de cabidela is a Portuguese dish made with poultry, usually a hen. The particularity of the dish is that the hen's blood is added almost at the end, mixed with vinegar while the rice is boiling, much like "jugged" or "civet" dishes. The blood is captured when the animal is slaughtered and imparts a brown color to the dish. Occasionally, white rice can be served with the dish, although this is not common. Cooking with blood is an antique custom common to several ancient cultures; in Portugal, Cabidela has been found in written record since the 16th century and may equally be prepared with other fowl or animals, though these are rare.
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