Berbere Yogurt Chicken with Basmati Pilaf and Roasted Zucchini

This berbere yogurt chicken brings bold spice, tangy yogurt, and a touch of char together in a simple oven dinner. The warm spice blend pairs beautifully with garlic, lemon, and tender chicken breasts.

Serve it over basmati rice pilaf with roasted zucchini, fresh cilantro, and a cooling lemon yogurt sauce for a balanced plate with bright, savory flavor.

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Ingredients

12 ounce Chicken BreastsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon BerbereView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit YogurtView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Yellow OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit ZucchiniView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 clove GarlicView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 ounce CilantroView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.75 cup Basmati RiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LemonView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Chicken Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

unit SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

unit PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Wash and dry all produce. Preheat the broiler to high, or heat the oven to 500 degrees. Halve, peel, and dice the onion. Mince the garlic. Cut the zucchini into 1/2-inch cubes.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the chicken breasts, berbere, half of the yogurt, and a large pinch each of salt and pepper. Turn the chicken until evenly coated in the marinade.
3. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic and cook, tossing, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Stir the basmati rice into the pot. Add 1 1/2 cups water, a large pinch of salt, and the chicken stock concentrate. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until the rice is tender, about 15 minutes.
5. Lightly oil a baking sheet. Place the marinated chicken on one half of the sheet. Broil until the surface is lightly charred, 3 to 5 minutes.
6. While the chicken broils, toss the zucchini in a medium bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
7. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Flip the chicken, reduce the oven temperature to 425 degrees, and spread the zucchini on the empty half of the baking sheet. Bake until the chicken is no longer pink inside and the zucchini is tender, about 12 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, zest and halve the lemon. In a small bowl, stir the lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice into the remaining yogurt. Thin with about 1 tablespoon water as needed, then season with salt and pepper.
9. Coarsely chop the cilantro. Stir half of it into the cooked rice pilaf.
10. Serve the chicken and roasted zucchini over the rice pilaf. Top with a dollop of lemon yogurt and the remaining cilantro.

Useful Cookware

A few helpful kitchen tools for this recipe, with relevant Amazon picks for each item.

Medium bowl

DOWAN 22 OZ White Ceramic Bowls Set of 4 - Perfect for Soup Bowls for Kitchen, Cereal Bowl, Ramen Bowl, Microwave Safe for Oatmeal, Fruit,Salad and Rice Bowl - Dishwasher & Microwave SafeView on AmazonMASTERCOOK Plastic Bowls Set of 6 – 15oz Multipurpose Deep Plates Salad and Pasta Bowls Ideal for Home, Kids, Parties – Stackable Bowl for Kitchen – Non-BPA and Food Grade – Cute ColorsView on AmazonMALACASA 26 OZ Porcelain Soup Bowls Set of 4, White Ceramic Bowls for Kitchen, Cereal Bowl for Oatmeal, Fruit, Salad, Ramen and Rice Bowl -Dishwasher & Microwave Safe BowlsView on Amazon

Medium pot

Cuisinart 1.5 Quart Sauce Pan with Cover, Stainless Steel Pot with Lid, Small Kitchen Pots, Dishwasher Safe, Compatible with Induction, Electric, Gas Cooktops, Oven Safe Saucepan, Cool Grip HandlesView on AmazonSENSARTE Nonstick Saucepan with Lid, 1.5 Quarts Small Pot with Swiss Granite Coating, Stay-cool Handle, Multipurpose Handy Sauce Pot Small Kitchen Cooking Pot, Induction Comptable, PFOA FreeView on AmazonCAROTE 8QT Full Clad Tri Ply Stainless Steel Stock Pot with Lid, Kitchen Soup Pot, All Stoves Compatible, Oven & Dishwasher Safe, Stay Cool Handle, White, Mothers Day GiftsView on Amazon

Baking sheet

GoodCook Everyday Nonstick Baking Sheet Set, 3 Pack Includes Small (13×9) Medium (15×1) and Large (17×11) Pans Carbon Steel Construction Cookie Sheets Bakeware Set, GrayView on AmazonNutriChef 3-Piece Nonstick Kitchen Oven Baking Pans - Premium & Stylish Non-Stick Steel, Commercial Grade Restaurant Quality Metal Bakeware with Red Silicone Handles - Easy to Clean, NCSBS3SView on AmazonNordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet - USA Made Aluminum Commercial Quality Sheet Pan for Baking or Roasting, Encapsulated Galvanized Steel Rim Prevents Warping, 2-PackView on Amazon

Small bowl

Kaytee Stoneware Ceramic Pet Hamster Bowl, Brown, 3-InchView on AmazonDipping Bowls, Soy Sauce Dish Ceramic, 3 OZ Small Serving Bowls for Side Dishes Vintage Blue Stylish Design, Set of 6 Mini Appetizer Plates for Condiment Sushi Ketchup BBQ Party, 4 InchView on AmazonFarielyn-X 3.5in 4oz Small Glass Bowls, Mini Glass Containers, Ramekins, Prep, Pinch Bowl, Stackable Condiment Containers, for Prep, Dips, Nuts, Snacks, Candy Meal Prep Bowls, Dessert BowlsView on Amazon

Zester

Deiss PRO Lemon Zester & Heavy Duty Cheese Grater & Vegetable Grater - Parmesan Cheese Lemon, Garlic, Nutmeg, Chocolate, Fruits, Vegetables, Ginger Grater - Cheese Shredder & Stainless Steel GraterView on AmazonMicroplane Premium Classic Series Zester 18/8, Black - Lemon Zester & Cheese Grater & Vegetable Grater - Citrus, Parmesan Cheese, Garlic, Ginger, Nutmeg, Chocolate - Stainless Steel GraterView on AmazonOXO Good Grips Etched Zester and GraterView on Amazon

Recipe Tips

FAQ

What is berbere?

Berbere is an Ethiopian spice blend. In this recipe, it brings flavor from spices such as garlic, red pepper, cardamom, coriander, and fenugreek.

How do I know when the chicken is done?

Bake until the chicken is no longer pink inside. The zucchini should also be tender by the time the chicken is finished.

Can I make the lemon yogurt thicker or thinner?

Yes. Use less water for a thicker dollop, or stir in about a tablespoon of water to make it looser and easier to spoon over the chicken.