MIDDLE EASTERN-INSPIRED HERB AND GARLIC CHICKEN

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Middle Eastern-Inspired Herb and Garlic Chicken image

This recipe was inspired by the Middle Eastern dried seasoning mix called za'atar, a combination of herbs (usually thyme, oregano and marjoram), sesame seeds and sumac, often spiked with salt. Here, fresh herbs are substituted for the dried, which, along with fresh parsley and mint and plenty of lemon and garlic, are used to marinated boneless chicken thighs. If you can't find sumac, just leave it out. It does add a nice tang and vibrant color, but the dish will work without it. Optimum marinating time here is 8 hours. But feel free to leave it for as little as 15 minutes or as long as 24 hours. If you would rather use white meat, substitute boneless skinless breasts but reduce the cooking time by a few minutes.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     weekday, weeknight, main course

Time 40m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 1 3/4 pounds)
6 garlic cloves, grated on a Microplane or minced
Juice and zest of 2 lemons
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, more for serving
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley, more for serving
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano or marjoram
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, more as needed
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, more for garnish (optional)
3/4 teaspoon sumac, more for garnish (optional)
2/3 cup plain Greek yogurt, preferably whole milk yogurt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Combine chicken with all but 1 teaspoon of the grated garlic (save that teaspoon for the yogurt sauce), the zest and juice of 1 lemon, oil, parsley, mint, thyme, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the sesame seeds and sumac, if using. Cover and marinate for 15 to 30 minutes at room temperature; you can refrigerate it for up to 24 hours.
  • Heat grill or broiler. If grilling, cook chicken over high heat until charred in spots, 4 to 7 minutes. Flip pieces and continue grilling until just cooked through, another 4 to 7 minutes. If broiling, arrange a rack 3 to 4 inches from flame. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spread chicken out in a single layer. Broil chicken, turning halfway through cooking, until well colored and charred in spots, 4 to 7 minutes per side. Be careful that it doesn't burn.
  • While chicken cooks, place yogurt in a small bowl. Stir in the reserved grated garlic and lemon zest and season to taste with salt. Serve the chicken drizzled with olive oil, remaining lemon juice to taste, black pepper, parsley and sesame seeds and sumac, if using, with the yogurt alongside for dipping.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 187, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 5 grams, Fat 11 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 17 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 447 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams

helen fisher
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I'm not sure what went wrong, but this dish was a complete disaster. The chicken was tough and the flavors were all wrong.


Mithoo Khosa
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This dish was easy to make, but it didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. The chicken was a little dry and the flavors were not very well-balanced.


Rakesh shah
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The chicken was a little overcooked for my taste, but the flavors were still good.


Sohrab Khan Bhutto
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I found this dish to be a bit bland. I think I would add more herbs and garlic next time.


Latoyia Wilson
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This chicken was a little dry for my taste. I think I might try cooking it for a shorter amount of time next time.


Aaliya Hernandez
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I'm not a huge fan of garlic, but I really liked this dish. The herbs and garlic were well-balanced and didn't overpower the chicken.


John Wallace
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This chicken is amazing! The herbs and garlic give it a really unique flavor. I served it with roasted vegetables and it was a perfect meal.


BD Total gaming
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I love this dish! It's so flavorful and easy to make. I usually double the recipe so I can have leftovers for lunch the next day.


Lina Selim
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This chicken is so easy to make and it's always a hit. I usually serve it with rice and vegetables, but it's also good with pasta or potatoes. The leftovers are also great for sandwiches or wraps.


Zoey Hillman
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I'm always looking for new ways to cook chicken and this dish fit the bill. The chicken was moist and flavorful. I especially liked the crispy skin. I served it with roasted potatoes and a green salad and it was a great meal.


resource TV
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This dish is a great way to use up leftover chicken. I made it with some leftover rotisserie chicken and it was delicious. The herbs and garlic really helped to flavor the chicken. I served it with mashed potatoes and green beans and it was a great m


SeanPHL
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I'm not a big fan of chicken, but I really enjoyed this dish. The herbs and garlic gave the chicken a really nice flavor. I would definitely make this again.


Anil Nepali
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This chicken was so easy to make and it turned out so well! I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts and they cooked perfectly in the time specified. The flavors of the herbs and garlic really came through. I served it with rice and roasted vegetabl


Ali Bahadar
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I made this dish for a party and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved the chicken and asked for the recipe. I will definitely be making this again for future parties.


Chandra Kala
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This dish was absolutely delicious! The chicken was tender and juicy, and the herbs and garlic gave it a wonderful flavor. I will definitely be making this again.