Lebanese Chicken Spiced Yogurt (Printable)

Spiced marinated chicken with fresh herby yogurt sauce

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Chicken Marinade

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1.3 pounds)
02 - 3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
03 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - Juice of 1 lemon
06 - 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
07 - 1½ teaspoons ground coriander
08 - 1 teaspoon ground paprika
09 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 - ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ For the Herby Yogurt Sauce

13 - 200 g plain Greek yogurt (about 7 ounces)
14 - 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
17 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
18 - ½ teaspoon salt
19 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ For Serving

20 - 1 red onion, thinly sliced
21 - 1 small cucumber, sliced
22 - 2 tomatoes, sliced
23 - Fresh parsley leaves
24 - Lemon wedges

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken thighs and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 30 minutes (up to overnight, covered in the refrigerator, for best flavor).
02 - Preheat the oven to 400°F or heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
03 - Remove excess marinade from the chicken. Arrange the chicken thighs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or grill pan. Roast or grill for 30–35 minutes, turning once halfway through, until golden and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F).
04 - While the chicken cooks, prepare the herby yogurt sauce by mixing Greek yogurt, grated garlic, mint, parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Chill until ready to use.
05 - Arrange the cooked chicken on a serving platter. Garnish with sliced onion, cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, and lemon wedges. Serve with the herby yogurt sauce on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The yogurt marinade makes the chicken impossibly tender while infusing it with deep flavor
  • This comes together quickly but tastes like you spent all day cooking
  • The herby yogurt sauce is addictive and you will want to put it on everything
02 -
  • The yogurt marinade can make the chicken look a bit pale before cooking, but it will turn beautifully golden in the oven
  • Letting the chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking helps it stay juicy
  • The sauce needs to sit for at least 15 minutes so the garlic flavor mellows
03 -
  • Pat the chicken dry before adding the marinade so it really sticks
  • Use a microplane to grate the garlic for the sauce so it practically disappears
  • Let the sauce sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving for the best flavor

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