Chicken and Chickpeas Pilaf ( Tavuk Nohutlu Pilav)

I like Turkish cuisine for its simplicity and really pure flavour. Traditional Turkish food doesn't include much spices. After spending Sunday out, in the evening I decided to make something traditionally Turkish, easy and really tasty!!!

What we need:

1 chicken

thyme

salt

pepper

cumin

red pepper flakes

1 lemon zest

2 glasses of cooked chickpeas

2 big onions

3 tbsp of olive oil

1 tbsp of butter

2 glasses of washed and drained rice

2,5 glasses of water

parsley

What we have to do:

1. Clean the chicken, season with salt, black pepper, cumin, red pepper flakes, thyme and lemon zest. Leave for an hour. Then bake in the oven ( 180C) for about 1,5 hours.

2. Wash and drain rice. Preheat the pot with 2 tbsp of olive oil and 1 tbsp of butter. Add 2 glasses ofrice and fry for 2-3 min. Mix from time to time. Then add salt and 2,5 glasses of water. Mix and cover the pot. Let it boil for 7-8 min, then turn off the heat and leave with a lid on for 10 more min.

3. Dice the onions and place in a preheated pan with some olive oil. Stir the onion. Season with salt and pepper. Let the onions caramelize in a low heat. When onions are ready add chickpeas until they are warm.

4. Put the pilaf in layers: rice, onion with chickpeas, chicken ( originally bones are taken out). Garnish with some chopped parsley. Serve with fresh vegetable salad. 

Afiyet Olsun!!! - Bon appetit!