Rice and Chicken Fatteh

Rice and Chicken Fatteh

A comforting and flavorful dish made with layers of crispy pita, fragrant rice, shredded chicken, and a creamy tahini-yogurt sauce.

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:

• 1 chicken breast, cut into strips

• Water (for boiling)

• ¼ purple onion

• 3 bay leaves

• 3-4 green cardamom pods

• A pinch of salt

• Black pepper, to taste

For the Rice:

• 1 cup rice (Medium grain rice)

• 2 cups water

• A pinch of salt

• A pinch of turmeric (for a soft yellow color)

For the Yogurt-Tahini Sauce:

• 2 garlic cloves, grated

• ¼ cup tahini

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 4 heaping tablespoons Desi yogurt

For Assembly:

• 1 pita bread, torn into small pieces

• Oil for frying

• Handful of fried, halved almonds

• Chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook the Chicken:

   • In a pot, bring water to a boil and add the chicken strips.

   • Skim off any impurities that rise to the surface.

   • Add ¼ purple onion, bay leaves, cardamom pods, salt, and black pepper.

   • Let it boil until the chicken is fully cooked (about 15-20 minutes).

   • Remove the chicken, shred it, and set it aside. Keep the broth for later.

2. Cook the Rice:

   • Rinse the 1 cup of rice under cold water until the water runs clear.

   • In a pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil.

   • Add the rinsed rice, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of turmeric.

   • Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 15 minutes until the water is absorbed and the rice is fluffy.

   • Turn off the heat and let it sit covered for another 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

3. Prepare the Yogurt-Tahini Sauce:

   • In a bowl, mix garlic, tahini, lemon juice, and yogurt until smooth.

   • Set aside.

4. Crisp the Pita Bread:

   • Heat oil in a pan and fry the torn pita bread pieces until crispy and golden brown.

   • Drain on a paper towel.

5. Assemble the Fatteh:

   • In a serving dish, place a layer of crispy pita bread at the bottom.

   • Add the cooked rice on top.

   • Layer the shredded chicken over the rice.

   • Spoon some of the yogurt-tahini sauce over the chicken.

   • Drizzle a ladle of the warm chicken broth over the dish to keep it moist.

   • Add more yogurt-tahini sauce on top.

   • Garnish with extra crispy pita, fried almonds, and chopped parsley.

6. Serve and Enjoy!