Mid Eastern Chicken Thighs Recipes

CHICKEN SHAWARMA (MIDDLE EASTERN)

Steps:

• Marinade chicken - Combine the marinade ingredients in a large ziplock bag. Add the chicken, seal, the massage from the outside with your hands to make sure each piece is coated. Marinate 24 hours (minimum 3 hours).
• Yogurt Sauce - Combine the Yogurt Sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix. Cover and put in the fridge until required (it will last for 3 days in the fridge).
• Preheat stove or BBQ - Heat a large non-stick skillet with 1 tablespoon over medium high heat, or lightly brush a BBQ hotplate/grills with oil and heat to medium high. (See notes for baking)
• Cook chicken - Place chicken in the skillet or on the grill and cook the first side for 4 to 5 minutes until nicely charred. Turn and cook the other side for 3 to 4 minutes (the 2nd side takes less time).
• Rest - Remove chicken from the grill and cover loosely with foil. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN THIGHS WITH POTATOES, PEPPERS AND FETA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degree F. Heat a large, high-sided, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the skin side of the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil to the hot pan and place the chicken in the pan, skin-side down. Sprinkle the other side of the chicken with salt and pepper. Let the chicken cook until it easily releases from the pan and is golden brown, about 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and allow to cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.
• Turn the heat down to medium and add the onion, peppers and red pepper flakes and sprinkle with salt. Let the vegetables cook, stirring regularly, until slightly wilted, about 3 minutes. The natural liquid from the vegetables will help deglaze the pan. Add in the potatoes and garlic and sprinkle with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for an additional 3 minutes. Add in the tomatoes, vinegar, oregano, thyme and artichoke hearts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Turn off the heat and nestle the chicken thighs on top of the vegetables.
• Transfer the pan to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F and the potatoes are fork tender, about 35 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle with feta cheese and parsley.

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!

MIDDLE EASTERN YOGURT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Whisk together yogurt, olive oil, vinegar, oregano, green onion, cumin, salt, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Add the chicken breast halves and toss to evenly coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator 1 hour to overnight.
• Preheat an oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Grease a shallow baking dish.
• Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess. Discard used marinade. Arrange chicken in prepared baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 25 minutes, turning occasionally. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Garnish with spearmint before serving.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first 8 ingredients. Set aside 1 teaspoon spice mixture; add flour to remaining mixture and sprinkle over chicken., In a large nonstick skillet, brown chicken in oil on both sides. Remove and keep warm. Add shallots to the pan; cook and stir over medium heat for 3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup broth and dates. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; return chicken to the pan., Cover and simmer until chicken juices run clear, 20-25 minutes. Remove chicken and keep warm. Combine flour with reserved 1 teaspoon spice mixture and remaining 2 tablespoons broth until smooth; gradually stir into the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro., For couscous, in a small saucepan, bring the water, broth, salt and cumin to a boil. Stir in couscous. Cover and remove from the heat; let stand until water is absorbed, 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork, then stir in almonds. Serve with chicken and sauce.

MID-EASTERN CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned lightly brown, about 7 minutes. Remove onion from skillet, and set aside.
• Increase heat to medium-high. Season one side of the chicken thighs with half of the garam masala and curry powder. Place the chicken seasoned-side down into the skillet, and season the other side with the remaining garam masala and curry powder. Continue cooking chicken until browned on both sides, about 4 minutes on each side. Pour in the red wine and red wine vinegar. Simmer for about 30 seconds, scraping up and browned bits from the pan. Stir in the prepared onion and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer the chicken thighs until no longer pink in the center, about 20 minutes.

MID-EASTERN CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned lightly brown, about 7 minutes. Remove onion from skillet, and set aside.
• Increase heat to medium-high. Season one side of the chicken thighs with half of the garam masala and curry powder. Place the chicken seasoned-side down into the skillet, and season the other side with the remaining garam masala and curry powder. Continue cooking chicken until browned on both sides, about 4 minutes on each side. Pour in the red wine and red wine vinegar. Simmer for about 30 seconds, scraping up and browned bits from the pan. Stir in the prepared onion and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer the chicken thighs until no longer pink in the center, about 20 minutes.

BAKED ZA'ATAR CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a bowl, mix together the za'atar, salt, and olive oil until the consistency of a thick paste. Add chicken thighs to the bowl, and toss to coat liberally on all sides. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 40 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

MIDDLE EASTERN-INSPIRED HERB AND GARLIC CHICKEN

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.