Middle Eastern Spiced Chicken Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Mix yogurt, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Marinate chicken in yogurt mixture for 1-2 hours.
• Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and saute for a few minutes until they are becoming tender. Add chicken/marinade and apricots and continue to cook. After about five minutes, add orange juice and chicken broth. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• With a spoon, add some of the hot cooking liquid to a bowl. Mix with cornstarch until smooth, and return this mixture to the saucepan. Stir constantly until thickened. At this point, you may wish to add additional amounts of cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
• Serve with basmati rice. Note: for additional flavor, cook rice with chicken broth.