Halal Chicken
The ultimate comfort food, Halal Chicken is juicy, flavorful, and perfect for any occasion. With its marinated chicken grilled to perfection and served with fluffy rice, this dish is an easy weeknight dinner that your family will love. Try it tonight!
Equipment
- Grill
- Baking Dish
- Medium Bowl
- Medium Saucepot
- Measuring Pitcher
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound boneless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 3-5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups basmati rice or long grain rice
- 2 teaspoons chicken base or bouillon
- 2 teaspoons turmeric
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 4 cups water
- 1 ½ cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1 ½ cups fresh diced tomato
- 3 pitas or naan sliced into 1-inch strips
- ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
- ¼ cup harissa hot sauce
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the marinade for your chicken. Set out a large baking dish and combine lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, oregano, ground coriander, ground cumin, salt, and pepper in the dish. Whisk everything together to create a cohesive mixture. The aroma will be simply delightful!
- Next, place the boneless chicken thighs into the marinade. Make sure to turn them over to coat all sides evenly. The longer they sit in the marinade, the more flavor they’ll absorb, so cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. If you're preparing it ahead, you can even marinate overnight for added taste!
- While the chicken marinates, let’s make the yogurt sauce. In a medium bowl or measuring pitcher, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and garlic powder. Mix until smooth and creamy. Do a quick taste test to ensure it's seasoned perfectly. Cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.
- Now, move on to the yellow rice. Set a medium saucepot over medium heat and melt butter. Once melted, add in the rice, stirring to ensure each grain is coated well. This is where the flavor begins to develop!
- Stir in chicken base, turmeric, onion powder, and ground cumin. Mix thoroughly so all the spices coat the rice. Next, pour in water, cover the pot, and bring it to a boil. This step is crucial for fluffy rice!
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it cook according to the package instructions, usually about 15 to 20 minutes. The rice is done when vent holes form on top, and it looks dry and fluffy. Remove from heat, fluff the rice gently with a fork, and keep it covered to retain warmth.
- Now for the fun part! Preheat your grill (or grill pan) to medium heat, aiming for about 350°F. Once hot, it’s time to grill the marinated chicken. Place the thighs on the grill and cook for about 5 minutes on each side. You want those beautiful grill marks!
- Once grilled, let the chicken rest for an additional 5 minutes. This allows the juices to settle, ensuring a moist bite every time. Then, slice the grilled chicken into thin strips, ready for plating.
- To serve, start with a large scoop of fluffy yellow rice on a plate. Top it with sliced grilled chicken, and add a few pita strips to one side. Place a generous scoop of shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes on the plate. Finally, dollop or drizzle your yogurt sauce on top, and if you like it spicy, don’t hesitate to add some harissa hot sauce!
- Sprinkle chopped parsley over everything for a fresh finish, and serve warm. Enjoy every bite of this fantastic Halal Chicken dish!
Notes
- Tip 1: Keep leftover chicken and rice in separate containers to maintain freshness. They can last up to 5 or 6 days in the fridge.
- Tip 2: You can freeze the marinated chicken before grilling. Just make sure to thaw it in the fridge a day before cooking.
- Tip 3: Serve Halal Chicken with a side salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
- Tip 4: Feel free to adjust the spices according to your preference. Add more heat or switch up the herbs!
- Tip 5: Adjust the portion sizes based on your guests or family size; it’s easy to scale up or down!