A hearty, comforting Moroccan classic: tender chicken simmered with onions, lentils, fenugreek, and warm spices, served over shredded msemen or trid flatbread soaked in fragrant broth. It is a soul-warming, deeply aromatic family dish.
Ingredients
- 1.2 kg cut-up whole chicken
- 600 g Moroccan msemen or trid flatbread
- 700 g yellow onions
- 120 g green lentils
- 35 g fenugreek seeds
- 3 cloves garlic
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Moroccan smen
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ras el hanout
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 pinch saffron threads
- to taste fine salt
- 0.5 bunches flat-leaf parsley
- 0.5 bunches fresh cilantro
- 1.5 l water
Method
- Rinse the lentils and soak the fenugreek seeds in warm water while prepping the other ingredients, until their aroma mellows.
- In a large Dutch oven, combine the chicken with the sliced onions, grated garlic, olive oil, smen, ground spices, saffron, salt, and the tied bundle of parsley and cilantro; toss and massage well until the meat is glossy and evenly coated.
- Heat the pot over medium heat and sear the chicken in its marinade, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to sweat and the spices become fragrant without scorching.
- Pour in the water, scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot, cover, and simmer until the chicken is tender and the broth turns a deep golden hue.
- Add the drained lentils and rinsed fenugreek seeds, then continue to simmer gently until the lentils are tender yet hold their shape.
- Discard the herb bundle, taste the broth, and adjust the seasoning; the sauce should be generous, spiced, slightly glossy from the melted onions, and rich enough to soak the flatbread.
- While the sauce finishes, gently warm the msemen or trid by steaming or in a covered skillet, then tear it into bite-sized pieces and mound them in a wide, shallow serving dish.
- Place the chicken in the center, arrange the lentils and onions around it, and ladle the piping-hot broth generously over the top until the bread is thoroughly soaked without drowning.
- Serve immediately, with an extra ladle of sauce over the top and a sprinkle of fresh herbs if desired.
Nutrition
Per serving
- Energy
- 524.7 kcal
- Protein
- 39.05 g
- Carbohydrate
- 41.48 g
- Fat
- 24.33 g
- Fibre
- 4.87 g
- Calcium
- 45.22 mg
- Iron
- 3.97 mg
- Magnesium
- 62.77 mg
