Best Spiced Balkan Chicken Recipes

BAKED BONELESS CHICKEN THIGHS WITH BAHARAT

Steps:

• Set a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Prepare the marinade. In a large mixing bowl, add the lime juice, olive oil, garlic, tomato paste, Baharat, and red pepper flakes. Mix to combine.
• Season the potatoes with kosher salt and toss them with about ¼ cup of the marinade mixture and arrange them, along with the shallots, in the bottom of a lightly oiled baking pan (I used a 9"x13" cast iron pan).
• Place the baking pan with the potatoes and shallots on the center rack of your heated oven. Bake for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pat the chicken dry and season on both sides with kosher salt, then add the chicken to the mixing bowl and toss until the chicken is well-coated with the marinade. Set aside for 15 minutes or so.
• Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat and add the sesame seeds. Toss constantly until the seeds gain a little color. This will not take long. Sesame seeds burn very easily, so don't leave them unattended. Set aside once toasted.
• Carefully remove the baking pan from the oven and nestle the chicken between the potatoes and shallots. Return the baking pan to the oven and cook for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through.
• Remove from the heat and finish the chicken with a generous sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and parsley. Enjoy!

MIDDLE EASTERN-INSPIRED HERB AND GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine chicken with all but 1 teaspoon of the grated garlic (save that teaspoon for the yogurt sauce), the zest and juice of 1 lemon, oil, parsley, mint, thyme, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the sesame seeds and sumac, if using. Cover and marinate for 15 to 30 minutes at room temperature; you can refrigerate it for up to 24 hours.
• Heat grill or broiler. If grilling, cook chicken over high heat until charred in spots, 4 to 7 minutes. Flip pieces and continue grilling until just cooked through, another 4 to 7 minutes. If broiling, arrange a rack 3 to 4 inches from flame. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spread chicken out in a single layer. Broil chicken, turning halfway through cooking, until well colored and charred in spots, 4 to 7 minutes per side. Be careful that it doesn't burn.
• While chicken cooks, place yogurt in a small bowl. Stir in the reserved grated garlic and lemon zest and season to taste with salt. Serve the chicken drizzled with olive oil, remaining lemon juice to taste, black pepper, parsley and sesame seeds and sumac, if using, with the yogurt alongside for dipping.

BLACKENED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet. Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat for 5 minutes until it is smoking hot.
• Mix together the paprika, salt, cayenne, cumin, thyme, white pepper, and onion powder. Oil the chicken breasts with cooking spray on both sides, then coat the chicken breasts evenly with the spice mixture.
• Place the chicken in the hot pan, and cook for 1 minute. Turn, and cook 1 minute on other side. Place the breasts on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 5 minutes.

SPICY CHICKEN AND BLACK BEAN BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix chicken, red bell pepper, red onion, sour cream, cream cheese, taco seasoning, and salt together in a large bowl. Combine black beans, hot water, and cumin in a separate bowl; roughly mash with a fork until evenly mixed.
• Layer 3 tortillas into the bottom of a 9x9-inch baking dish. Top tortillas with 1/2 the salsa, 1/2 the black bean mixture, and 1/2 the chicken mixture. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients, ending with chicken mixture. Sprinkle casserole with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.