Description
This Persian Chicken recipe is so flavorful and comforting! The savory, tender chicken and basmati rice are infused with fragrant Baharat spice – a delightful one-pan dinner that comes together quickly and easily!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 1/2 cup basmati rice – or other long grain rice- see notes.
- 6 pieces bone-in, skin-on chicken- a mix of breasts and thighs are perfect
- Salt to taste (1 teaspoon salt per pound of chicken)
- 2–3 tablespoons olive oil
- One red onion thinly sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, rough chopped
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon barberries, optional
- Pinch saffron, crumbled (or sub 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric)
- Optional garnishes: Flat leaf parsley, cilantro, pomegranate seeds, nuts ( slivered almonds, slivered pistachios)
Baharat Spice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Place rice in a bowl and cover with water to soak while you prep the remaining ingredients.
- Mix the Baharat spices together in a bowl. Season all sides of the chicken with salt ( use 1 teaspoon per pound) then rub the spice blend all over the chicken, using it all. Set chicken aside. See note.
- In a large oven-proof skillet, braiser or Dutch oven, add 1 tablespoon oil and heat over medium-high heat. Saute the onion and garlic until tender and fragrant, seasoning with salt and pepper, and set these aside.
- To the same pan, add more oil if needed. Place the chicken skin-side down, gently searing over medium heat, just until nicely golden, about 4 minutes.Turn over, and sear 1-2 minutes. No need to cook through. Set it aside.
- Rinse and drain the rice well—place in the same pan. Add the water, salt, saffron and barberries. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits.
- Cover with ½ the onions.
- Nestle in the chicken, skin side up.
- Nestle in the rest of the onions, in between the chicken. Rice should come to a simmer. Cover and place in the oven for 12 minutes. Remove cover and continue cooking until rice is tender and thighs reach 165F, another 10-20 minutes depending on chicken size. Feel free to broil for a few minutes if you like a crispier skin.
- Garnish with parsley or cilantro. Pomegranate seeds would be nice here too or add a nut.
Notes
Salt is key here, be intentional about adding roughly 1 teaspoon per pound of chicken, otherwise chicken may be bland.
The baharat spice can be made ahead. You can sub Lebanese 7 Spice or even Ras el Hanout.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: One piece chicken with ¾ cup rice
- Calories: 528
- Sugar: 1.2 g
- Sodium: 599.1 mg
- Fat: 21.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 41.3 g
- Fiber: 1.6 g
- Protein: 40.2 g
- Cholesterol: 111.4 mg