Baharat Chicken Recipes

BAHARAT CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Combine sweet paprika, pepper, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise, and nutmeg in a small bowl and stir to combine.
• Place chicken tenders on a plate and sprinkle one side with 2 teaspoons of the spice blend. Season with sea salt to taste. Turn tenders and sprinkle the other side with an additional 2 teaspoons of the spice blend; add salt to taste. Store remaining spice blend in an airtight container and reserve for another use.
• Heat a skillet over medium heat. Pour in olive oil once skillet is hot and heat until it shimmers. Carefully place chicken tenders into skillet one at a time, making sure they don't touch each other. Cook for 4 1/2 minutes, turn, and cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 4 1/2 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove chicken from skillet and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add onion to the same skillet and cook until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Remove onion slices and drain on paper towel-lined plate. Serve onions with chicken.

BAHARAT CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Mix paprika, black pepper, cumin, coriander, loomi, sumac, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, green cardamom, and black cardamom together to make baharat spice mixture. Set baharat blend aside.
• Combine cilantro, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and lemon juice in a resealable plastic bag. Add 1 tablespoon baharat blend. Add chicken pieces, seal, and shake. Marinate in the refrigerator at least 4 hours.
• Meanwhile, place rice in a large bowl and cover with fresh water. Soak at least 1 hour. Rinse and drain and return to the bowl. Add cashews, almonds, raising, and pistachios. Stir in 1 tablespoon baharat blend. Mix well and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a Dutch oven or tagine over medium heat. Add shallot and cook until translucent, 1 to 3 minutes. Turn off heat. Add rice mixture and toss to coat.
• Remove cilantro from the bag with the chicken. Pour marinated chicken on top of the rice in the Dutch oven; reserve bag. Pour broth into the bag and shake gently; pour over the chicken and rice. Cover Dutch oven.
• Bake in the preheated oven until rice is soft and chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 75 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

BAHARAT ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the baharat, sumac, cumin, coriander, preserved lemon rinds, garlic, chicken stock, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Seal the bag and gently massage everything together. Open the bag and toss in the chicken thighs and onions, reseal, and massage again to fully coat the chicken. Toss the bag in the fridge for at least 2 hours but preferably overnight to marinate, turning the bag once or twice.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Dump the chicken and the marinade in a large roasting pan and arrange the chicken, skin side up, on top of the onions. Roast until the chicken is golden brown and the juices run clear when pierced with a knife, 40 to 50 minutes.
• Ladle the chicken, sauce, onions, and lemon onto mounds of rice or couscous.

BAHARAT

Steps:

• Combine paprika, pepper, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise, and nutmeg in a bowl and mix well. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

BAKED BONELESS CHICKEN THIGHS WITH BAHARAT

Steps:

• Set a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Prepare the marinade. In a large mixing bowl, add the lime juice, olive oil, garlic, tomato paste, Baharat, and red pepper flakes. Mix to combine.
• Season the potatoes with kosher salt and toss them with about ¼ cup of the marinade mixture and arrange them, along with the shallots, in the bottom of a lightly oiled baking pan (I used a 9"x13" cast iron pan).
• Place the baking pan with the potatoes and shallots on the center rack of your heated oven. Bake for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pat the chicken dry and season on both sides with kosher salt, then add the chicken to the mixing bowl and toss until the chicken is well-coated with the marinade. Set aside for 15 minutes or so.
• Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat and add the sesame seeds. Toss constantly until the seeds gain a little color. This will not take long. Sesame seeds burn very easily, so don't leave them unattended. Set aside once toasted.
• Carefully remove the baking pan from the oven and nestle the chicken between the potatoes and shallots. Return the baking pan to the oven and cook for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through.
• Remove from the heat and finish the chicken with a generous sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and parsley. Enjoy!