Stuffed Chicken With Freekeh
Freekeh is made from roasted green durum wheat and is a great alternative to rice given its health benefits. Derived from Levantine and North African cuisines, it is also a popular part of Mediterranean cuisine. When cooked and served with stuffed chicken, freekeh is a delightfully tasty dish that is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Ingredients
The ingredients below will accommodate 2-4 servings
Ingredients:
2 cup of washed Freekeh
1 small whole chicken
2 tbs of ghee butter or corn oil
4-6 whole cardamoms
2 cinnamon sticks
2 bay leaves
4-6 cloves
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of 7 spices
1 tsp of cardamoms powder
Optional: 2 tsp of crushed pepper
Skewers to close the chicken after you stuff it
Chicken Marination Recipe:
2 tbsp of olive oil
2 tbsp of Worchester sauce
1 tsp of cardamom powder
1 tsp of 7 spices
1 tsp of garlic powder
1 tsp of turmeric
Optional: 1 tsp of red chili or cayenne
Preparation
Step 1
Start by washing the freekeh 2-3 times and soak it with warm water. Heat the ghee butter or the oil and add the whole spices (cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamoms and bay leaves) and mix it for 2-3 minutes. Then add the cleaned freekeh, the other spices and salt and mix the ingredients. Add boiled water to cover the ingredients.
Reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 40-60 minutes until all the liquid has absorbed and the freekeh is cooked through. The freekeh shouldn’t be crunchy but it needs to hold its shape.
Step 2
In a small bowl add the olive oil and Worchester sauce with the spices, rub the spices mixture all over the chicken and inside the cavity.
(If you prefer you can prepare this the night before to let the spices and salt marinate the chicken)
Now we need to take around 3-4 tbsp of the half cooked freekeh and stuff the chicken with it. Cross the legs and close the cavity with the skewers so the freekeh doesn't fall out.
Place the chicken in a roasting pan and add 1 cup of water. Cover with parchment paper and aluminum foil and put it in the oven to bake 450F for 30 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 400F for another 30 minutes.
Once it's done uncover the foil and the parchment paper and broil for 5 minutes on each side.
Step 3
The freekeh should be chewy and not crunchy. Fluff with a fork and place on a flat serving pan. Then add the chicken on top of the freekeh.
Optional: top with roasted almonds and chopped parsley.
This dish is often served with a savory yogurt and a cucumber and tomatoes salad.
Now you have a healthy and tasty dish. SaH-teyn (Bon appetite)!
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