Chicken Fatteh with Lebanese Rice and Tomato Onion Salad

Ingredients

Chicken Fatteh

• 2 stick of cinnamon (or 1 tsp. ground cinnamon)
• 3 cumin seeds (or 1 tsp ground cumin)
• 4 cloves
• 5 cardamon seeds
• 3 chicken breast
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 cup roasted pines nuts
• salt and pepper

Fatteh Sauce

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp chopped mint
• 2 tsp parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp lemon/lime

Lebanese Rice

• 1 cup rice, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup broken vermicelli noodles
• 1 tsp butter
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Tomato Salad

• 6 tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 1/2 tablespoons roasted pine nuts or roasted almonds
• 1/2 tablespoon za' atar
• 2 tablespoons chiffonade basil
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper

Cooking/Assembling

Rice

1. in a pan add the butter and the broken vermicelli. fry vermicelli until golden brown. in a pot, add rice and rice seasoning bring to high heat and add the vermicelli and cook for a few seconds, then add in the water. bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer on low for 5 minutes or until water is completely absorbed and rice is to liking. leave pot of rice covered with lid so as to stay warm for serving while making the rest of the meal.

The Chicken

1. bring a pot of water to a boil and add in the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and cumin seeds. add in the chicken and poach for 40 minutes or until very tender. lift the chicken out and let cool. shred chicken and let set aside.
2. in a frying pan, add in oil and the onion and cook on medium heat for 3 minutes or until onion is soft. add in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute or until garlic is fragrant. stir in the shredded chicken and paprika and season well with salt and pepper. cook for a few more minutes until completely heated and well mixed.
3. mix all the ingredients for the yogurt sauce. (optional) toast some torn up pieces of pita bread. combine the rice and the chicken, and pour over the yogurt sauce. sprinkle over the roasted pine nuts and toasted pita bread.

Tomato Salad

1. combine all the ingredients together in a bowl, and toss and mix in the dressing (olive oil, vinegar, za'atar, citrus). I like to combine the dressing ingredients in a bottle and shake it well and pour it over the salad before combining it with the salad.

bon appetit