Chicken Mandi

Chicken Sajji is one of my favorite things to eat when I am up for a take away. It is mostly because it is a complete meal and I also really really love the Kabuli pulao.

If you ever give me a choice of meeting my favorite person or eating chicken sajji I will more likely do the latter.

There is an Arabic version of Sajji which is known as Mandi. A recipe from Yemen which is popular among the Gulf and I have seen many people ODing on it on my Snapchat. It always intrigued me that I kinda waited for years to travel to some Gulf country to taste this thing but sadly I never got the chance because BROKE AF.

So, I took it to myself and decided to make this thing. After enough searching I found the perfect recipe and with a little adjustment to the ingredients I was good to go.

The most interesting part of this recipe is making the spice rub for the chicken marination and then the marinating process. The spice rub is very unique and nothing I have ever tasted before and it is known as Hawaij.

INGREDIENTS FOR HAWAIJ:

Coriander seeds 1.5 tablespoons

Cumin seeds 1.5 tablespoons

Whole Black peppercorns- 1.5 teaspoons

Whole cardamom 1 tablespoon

Whole cloves 1 teaspoon


Whole cinnamon 2 inch stick

INGREDIENTS FOR CHICKEN:

1 whole skinned chicken weighing 1.5 kilograms

4 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

2 tablespoon Hawaij

3 teaspoons salt

INGREDIENTS FOR RICE:

2.5 cups basmati rice soaked

1 roughly chopped onion

6 green chilies

3 bay leaves

2 tablespoons oil

2 cloves

3 whole cardamoms

2 inch cinnamon stick

1 teaspoon whole black peppercorn

1 teaspoon saffron soaked in 2 tablespoons of water

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

5 cups of water

We start off with preparing Hawaij by roasting all the ingredients in a medium heat pan for 4 minutes.

Then we let the roasted spices cool down and then add them to a grinder to turn it into a powdered mixture.

Now we marinate the chicken by combine melted butter with Hawaij, salt, turmeric and pepper in a bowl.

Brush the spice rub thoroughly onto the chicken and inside the chicken as well.

Wrap the chicken with a plastic or aluminum foil and let it marinate for at least 4 hours to overnight.

I had it in the fridge over night and trust me the chicken tasted way better with more time to the marination.

Now we prepare the rice by frying chopped onions in a pan over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of oil in it.

When the onions become translucent, turn off the stove and add, rice, green chilies, bay leaves, pepper corns, cardamom, cloves, turmeric, water and salt according to your taste.

Mix it properly.

Place a wire rack over the pan and carefully place the chicken breast side down over it.

Pre-heat the oven on 425 F and place the pan with the chicken on top and bake it for 15 minutes.

At this time we will soak the saffron threads in water so by the time the rice are cooked they are completely diluted in the water.

After fifteen minutes turn the temperature of the oven down to 325 F and cook the chicken for 1 hour.

NOTE - The time of cooking the chicken may vary upon size. So please despite of this recipe and timing instructions keep a check on your chicken and rice both after at least every 15-20 minutes.

After 1 hour take out the pan and carefully flip the chicken to breast side up. BE VERY CAREFUL THE CHICKEN WILL BE VERY HOT SO USE A CLOTH OR UTENSILS.

Put the pan with chicken on top back for another 45 minutes.

After 45 more minutes the rice are cooked and the chicken is baked. Take both things out. Separate the chicken and let it cool down.

Add Saffron to the rice and mix it well as that will give color and flavor to the rice.

Put the rice on a platter and place the chicken carefully over it. You can top Mandi with roasted almonds and lemon wedges as well.

CHICKEN MANDI IS READY TO BE ANNIHILATED.

Shawarma Spiced Grilled Chicken and Garlic Yogurt

HEALTHY CHICKEN RECIPE - EPISODE TWO

SHAWARMA SPICED GRILLED CHICKEN AND GARLIC YOGURT

Disclaimer - I do not by any means create most these recipes. I just surf a lot of web, watch a lot of videos and then just amalgamate what I see and come up with this recipe. This I have taken from a place called skinny taste.

After the huge commercial success of "Waqai Bara Shwarama" which costs around Rs. 50 and is an assassinated disturbing Pakistani version of the Shwarama full of mayo and unhealthy/unhygienic cooked chicken I bring you the light on your stomach and amazingly marinated (NOT MARRIED; YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) Shwarama Spiced Grilled Chicken and to conquer your taste-buds completely Garlic Yogurt.

You might have to go to a supermarket for the full ingredients but trust me you will thank yourself for that effort once you take the very first bite of this. PLEASE DO NOT COMPARE IT WITH WAQAI BARA SHWARAMA OR I WILL SLAY YOU.

INGREDIENTS FOR CHICKEN:

500 grams boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Juice from 3 lemons
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon turmeric
¼ teaspoon curry powder
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
black pepper powder, to taste

INGREDIENTS FOR GARLIC YOGURT:

200 grams unsweetened yogurt
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/8 tsp kosher salt
Chopped coriander(for garnish)

First place your chicken on a flat surface and cover it with a plastic sheet.

Then take a meat hammer and smash your chicken until its half an inch thick.

One of the chicken reported me for domestic violence after watching this.

Then you need to prepare the marinade.

Put olive oil in a small or medium bowl.

Squeeze lemon juice in it and whisk properly until mixed.

Add minced garlic, salt, pepper, ground cinnamon, paprika, curry powder, cumin powder, turmeric and red pepper flakes. Mix until a thick coating is formed.

Cover and coat all the chicken breasts with the marinade. Leave it in the fridge for 1 hour at least.

Meanwhile the chicken marinades let's prepare the yogurt.

In a large bowl add minced garlic, salt and yogurt. Mix it together properly and add chopped coriander.

Garlic yogurt is ready.

AN HOUR PASSED SO QUICKLY

Put a tablespoon of oil on a grill pan and rub it properly with a brush.

Preheat it on medium low heat.

THIS IS SO PEACEFUL AND COMFORTING

Place the marinated chicken on the grill and cook it for 4-5 minutes on each side.

Take the chicken from the grill plan and let it rest over a flat surface for 5 minutes.

Cut it into strip or according to your own desire or serving style.

I have boiled some bran rice with this but you can eat it with plain white rice, pita bread or just plain with the yogurt.

Ladies and gentlemen this is one of the best grilled chickens I have tasted thanks for that combinations of spices. GIVE IT UP FOR Shawarma Spiced Grilled Chicken and Garlic Yogurt.