Genuine Musakhan (Palestinian Sumac Hen with Onions)

April 11, 2023

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Musakhan, often known as muhammar, is a conventional Palestinian dish extremely standard within the Levantine area of the Center East. It’s a flavorful and fragrant dish made with rooster, onions, and spices; all served on prime of a flatbread known as taboon bread. The dish has a wealthy historical past and is commonly served throughout particular events equivalent to weddings, festivals, and holidays.

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This scrumptious dish is historically served on taboon bread, a spherical flatbread cooked in a clay oven. The bread is comfortable and barely chewy, with a crispy exterior, and it supplies the proper base for the rooster and onion combination. It’s often served family-style, with the bread on a big platter and the rooster and onions organized on prime, garnished with contemporary herbs and extra sumac.

Musakhan is a hearty and comforting dish for sharing with family and friends, particularly in the course of the holidays. It’s a dish that brings individuals collectively, and the flavors and aromas will transport you to the bustling streets of the Levant.

WHAT IS MUSAKHAN?

Musakhan is a conventional Palestinian dish that is healthful and scrumptious. It is also known as the nationwide dish of Palestine!

The principle ingredient in Musakhan is rooster, which is minimize into halves or quarters, with or with out the pores and skin. The rooster is then marinated in a mix of spices, together with sumac, black pepper, cinnamon, paprika, lemon juice, and olive oil.

The sumac provides a tangy and barely bitter taste to the dish, whereas the black pepper and cinnamon present a heat and spicy style. The rooster is then cooked till tender and juicy, and the onions are caramelized in the identical pan, absorbing all of the flavors from the rooster and the spices.

As soon as the rooster and onions are cooked, the combination is positioned on the taboon or Arabic bread. The dish is then garnished with contemporary parsley or cilantro and further sumac, which provides taste. It’s then served heat and may be eaten as is or with a aspect salad or greens.

Juicy chicken of Musakhan with onion and pine nuts.

WHAT DOES THE WORD MUSAKHAN MEAN?

The phrase Musakhan interprets to “heated up” in Arabic, and it is believed that the identify comes from how the rooster and onions are cooked collectively in a pan earlier than being positioned on prime of the taboon bread.

This conventional dish is really a testomony to how taste may be created by heating a number of substances. Musakhan is bound to heat your coronary heart in addition to your style buds!

WHAT MAKES THIS MUSAKHAN RECIPE SPECIAL?

Conventional: Musakhan is a conventional Palestinian recipe with substances, and cooking methods handed down for generations.

Genuine style: The usage of sumac provides this dish a singular style. It’s normal in Center Japanese cuisines and is tangy and barely bitter.

Culturally vital: This dish is culturally vital in Palestinian and Center Japanese cultures. Plus, serving it family-style encourages sharing and dialog, good for a gathering with family and friends.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MUSAKHAN?

Musakhan is extraordinarily standard in Palestine, a lot in order that it is thought-about Palestine’s nationwide dish. Additionally it is a well-liked dish amongst Jordanians. The substances in Musakhan are simply obtainable and utilized in many different dishes within the area, which can account for its widespread recognition.

This dish is commonly served throughout particular events like weddings, festivals, and holidays. The particular recipes and cooking methods have been handed down for generations, making this a major dish within the Levant.

Close up image of Musakhan with toasted pine nuts.

🥘 INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR MUSAKHAN

Hen: We’ll use a complete rooster minimize in half, however you’ll be able to go for rooster thighs or legs for this recipe; a lot of the flavour comes from the bone. You’ll be able to go away the pores and skin on or take it off, whichever you like.

Seasoning: The seasonings are what deliver this dish collectively. Cinnamon and paprika present a heat, barely candy taste, with sumac making it tangy and barely bitter.

Lemon juice: We are going to use lemon juice to assist tenderize the rooster and provides it a barely citrusy style.

You’ll be able to scroll right down to the recipe card for additional particulars and directions.

🔪 HOW TO MAKE MUSAKHAN

Making Musakhan could seem difficult, nevertheless it’s extremely simple and rewarding.

The complete directions are within the recipe card beneath, however let us take a look at the primary steps to creating this deal with.

Step 1:

Begin by preheating your oven to 220C/ 400F.

Step 2:

Within the baking pan, add all of the substances besides the rooster. Combine and rub the substances collectively effectively together with your arms.

Step 3:

Subsequent, add the rooster to the baking pan. Combine and rub once more for the rooster to be coated with spices.

Rubbing the chicken with onion and spices.

Step 4:

Place the rooster over the onion. Cowl the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. If you’re baking the rooster with the pores and skin on, place the rooster pores and skin down over the onion.

Step 5:

When the rooster is completed, flip the rooster pores and skin aspect up and broil it to present the pores and skin a lovely golden brown coloration. Serve the rooster with bread on the aspect. Or, place Arabic bread (taboon or naan bread) within the baking pan, then add the rooster on prime with the onion and juices.

Freshly baked chicken musakhan on bread.

Your scrumptious Musakhan is able to be served.

💭 COOKING TIPS FOR MUSAKHAN

Musakhan is a comparatively easy dish, however listed here are some suggestions to make sure it seems completely!

Go for rooster thighs or legs: On this recipe, you’ll be able to go for rooster thighs or legs for the reason that bones add much more taste to the dish. However in any other case, boneless rooster cubes will work simply nice as effectively!

Select the appropriate measurement rooster: In the event you use a big rooster, it’ll take longer to cook dinner and will turn out to be dry. It is higher to decide on medium or small-sized items for this recipe.

Do away with frozen rooster scent: Most frozen chickens have a scent to them, and you may do away with it by rubbing the rooster with salt and white vinegar, then inserting it within the fridge for 10 to fifteen minutes. Wash and pat it dry and use it within the recipe.

Marinate the rooster in a single day: The longer you marinate it, the extra flavorful will probably be. Let it sit coated within the fridge in a single day with spices and onion to deliver out the flavors.

Use a baking pan with excessive sides: This may assist to include all of the juices and stop them from dripping out of the pan throughout cooking.

Musakhan served on Arabian bread and onion.

📖 DELICIOUS VARIATIONS FOR MUSAKHAN

Musakhan is a straightforward dish and might simply be tailored to totally different tastes. Listed below are some scrumptious variations to make your Musakhan extra attention-grabbing.

Add greens: Greens like cauliflower, zucchini, candy potatoes, or eggplants may be added for a more healthy and extra colourful dish.
Swap up the meat: You’ll be able to exchange the rooster with different proteins, like beef, lamb, or fish. This provides you with a special however nonetheless scrumptious taste.
Strive totally different seasonings: You’ll be able to swap out some conventional seasonings for extra distinctive ones, equivalent to turmeric, cumin, and coriander.

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🌡️ HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER MUSAKHAN

When you have any leftover Musakhan, one of the simplest ways to retailer it’s in an hermetic container within the fridge. Leftover Musakhan will final for as much as 3 days when saved correctly.

Place it in a preheated oven at 350F/175C for about 10-Quarter-hour to reheat. You too can microwave it for a couple of minutes till sizzling.

📖 Recipe