Yogurt-Marinated Chicken with Jeweled Basmati Rice and Cucumber Salad

This Persian-inspired dish brings together tender yogurt-marinated chicken, aromatic basmati rice studded with dried cherries and pistachios and a refreshing cucumber-tomato salad. Roasted chickpeas and onions add crunch, while warm pita, hummus and tzatziki complete the feast.

Perfect for a special dinner or a global culinary adventure at home, this recipe is packed with bold spices and fresh flavors. The chicken is marinated in a spiced yogurt mixture, then seared to golden perfection. The rice is cooked with butter, cherries and pistachios for a sweet and nutty touch. Serve everything family-style for a memorable meal.

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Ingredients

1 unit Red OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit ChickpeasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

8 tablespoon HummusView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit PitasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 ounce PistachiosView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 unit LemonView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 tablespoon YogurtView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit Mini CucumberView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

8 ounce Grape TomatoesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Shawarma Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 ounce Dried CherriesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

12 ounce Chicken CutletsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Garlic PowderView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 ounce DillView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 ounce Dairy-Free Tzatziki SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Basmati RiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon (tbsp) Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon (tbsp) ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. In a medium bowl, mix yogurt, garlic powder, 1 tsp shawarma spice blend, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt and pepper. Pat chicken dry, add to bowl and turn to coat. Marinate 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, halve, peel and cut onion into ½-inch wedges; mince a few wedges to get 2 tbsp. Quarter tomatoes, dice cucumbers, chop dill and quarter lemon.
3. In a second bowl, combine minced onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, half the dill, juice from half the lemon, a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper. Refrigerate until serving.
4. Drain and rinse chickpeas; pat dry. On a baking sheet, toss chickpeas and onion wedges with olive oil, 1 tsp shawarma spice blend, salt and pepper. Roast on top rack, tossing halfway, until crispy and browned, 18-20 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, roughly chop pistachios. In a small pot, melt 1 tbsp butter over medium-high heat. Add cherries, half the pistachios, remaining shawarma spice blend and a pinch of salt; cook 1 minute. Stir in rice, ¾ cup water and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low and cook until tender, 15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat.
6. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Discard marinade. Cook chicken until browned and cooked through, 5-7 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board.
7. Wrap pitas in damp paper towels; microwave 30-40 seconds. Cut each into 6 triangles. Fluff rice with a fork; stir in remaining dill, 1 tbsp butter, salt and pepper. Slice chicken. Divide rice among plates; top with chicken, roasted chickpeas and onion. Drizzle with tzatziki, garnish with remaining pistachios. Serve with cucumber salad, pita, hummus and extra tzatziki.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use regular tzatziki instead of dairy-free?

Yes, regular tzatziki works perfectly in place of dairy-free.

What can I substitute for shawarma spice blend?

A mix of cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric and cinnamon can mimic the flavor.

Can I prepare the chicken marinade ahead of time?

Absolutely! Marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance for deeper flavor.