Description
A delicious and aromatic one skillet oven-baked chicken shawarma paired with flavorful rice pilaf. The chicken is marinated with a blend of Middle Eastern spices, seared to a golden brown, then baked atop a fragrant rice pilaf infused with cardamom, cinnamon, chickpeas, and raisins. Served with fresh herbs and a dollop of plain Greek yoghurt, this dish is a perfect hearty, comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Spice Rub
- 1 large garlic clove, minced (or 2 small cloves)
- 1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (or ordinary paprika)
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
Chicken
- 5 chicken thigh fillets, bone in, skin on (about 2 lb / 1kg total)
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
Rice Pilaf
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups long grain rice, uncooked
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth (or water)
- 2 cups water
- 3/4 – 1 tsp salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
- 2 cinnamon sticks (or 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder)
- 400g (14oz) can chickpeas, drained
- 1/4 cup raisins or sultanas (optional)
To Serve
- Plain unsweetened yoghurt (Greek yoghurt recommended)
- Cilantro/coriander leaves, roughly chopped
- Parsley leaves, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 180C/350F to prepare it for baking the chicken and rice pilaf.
- Prepare the spice rub: In a small bowl, combine garlic, ground coriander, cumin, cardamom, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, black pepper, and lemon juice to form a thick paste coating.
- Marinate the chicken: Coat the chicken thigh fillets thoroughly with the spice rub on both sides. For best flavor, marinate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours in the fridge. Marinating is optional but recommended.
- Brown the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin side down, and sear for 5 minutes per side until lightly golden brown. This seals in juices and builds flavor.
- Prepare for rice pilaf: Remove the chicken from the skillet. Scrape off any burnt bits and discard along with excess oil, leaving just enough oil to cook the onions.
- Sauté aromatics: Add minced garlic and diced onion to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
- Toast the rice: Stir in the uncooked rice, coating the grains well in the oil and cooking until the rice becomes slightly translucent. This step improves texture and flavor.
- Add liquids and spices: Pour in the chicken broth, water, cardamom powder, salt, black pepper, cinnamon sticks, drained chickpeas, and raisins if using. Mix gently for even distribution.
- Arrange chicken: Nestle the browned chicken thighs on top of the rice mixture, ensuring they are half submerged with the skin side above the liquid. Pour any juices left on the plate over the chicken.
- Cook in the oven: Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and place it in the oven. Bake for 35 minutes, then remove the lid and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes to crisp the chicken skin and finish cooking the rice.
- Rest the dish: Remove the skillet from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. This helps the flavors settle and rice to finish absorbing moisture.
- Mix and serve: Carefully remove the chicken from the rice. Stir the rice gently to distribute flavors evenly. Serve garnished with chopped cilantro and parsley, accompanied by a spoonful of plain Greek yoghurt for creaminess.
Notes
- Note 1: Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs provide extra flavor and juiciness but can be substituted with boneless skinless thighs if preferred.
- Note 2: Using long grain rice keeps the pilaf fluffy and less sticky.
- Note 3: Marinating the chicken is optional but enhances flavor and tenderness dramatically.
- Note 4: Plain Greek yoghurt adds creaminess and a cooling contrast to the spice in the dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keywords: Chicken Shawarma, Rice Pilaf, Middle Eastern Chicken, One Skillet Dinner, Oven Baked Chicken, Spiced Chicken, Chickpea Rice, Easy Dinner Recipe
