Best 4 Zaatar Chicken With Garlicky Yogurt Recipes

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Tantalize your taste buds with the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean in this culinary journey. Embark on a delightful escapade as we present a symphony of recipes featuring the aromatic spice blend za'atar. From the succulent Za'atar Chicken with Garlicky Yogurt, bursting with zesty flavors, to the delectable Za'atar Roasted Vegetables, a symphony of colors and textures, each dish promises a unique gustatory experience. Discover the secrets of creating the perfect Za'atar Spice Blend, a versatile seasoning that will elevate your culinary creations. Indulge in the creamy delight of Za'atar Labneh Dip, a perfect accompaniment for pita bread or fresh vegetables. And for a delightful twist, try the Za'atar-Crusted Salmon, where flaky fish meets the vibrant spice blend for an unforgettable meal. Prepare to be captivated by the culinary magic of za'atar as you explore these enticing recipes, sure to become favorites in your kitchen.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

ZA'ATAR CHICKEN WITH GARLICKY YOGURT



Za'atar Chicken with Garlicky Yogurt image

Here the garlic- and lemon-infused pan dripping are mixed with citrusy za'atar and spooned over the fall-apart meat.

Provided by Aaron Crowder

Categories     Bon Appétit     Dinner     Entertaining     Chicken     Roast     Onion     Garlic     Lemon     Citrus     Soy Free     Peanut Free     Wheat/Gluten-Free     Tree Nut Free

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 chicken legs (thigh and drumstick; about 2 1/2 lb. total)
2 medium red onions, cut into 1"-thick wedges
2 heads of garlic, halved crosswise, plus 2 cloves
1 lemon, quartered, seeds removed
Kosher salt
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
3 Tbsp. za'atar
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
1 tsp. finely grated lime zest

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Pat chicken legs dry with paper towels. Arrange chicken, onions, halved garlic heads, and lemon in a 13x9" baking dish; season liberally with salt (remember to season both sides of chicken). Pour in oil and toss everything to coat. Turn garlic cut side down and nestle it in so it is in contact with the baking dish. Roast, rotating pan halfway through, until meat is almost falling off the bone, 50-60 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, finely grate 1 garlic clove into a small bowl. Add yogurt, a big pinch of salt, and 1 Tbsp. water and mix well. Set aside yogurt sauce.
  • Remove baking dish from oven and transfer onions, garlic, and lemon to a plate. Increase oven temperature to 425°F and continue to roast chicken until skin is golden brown, 10-15 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes. Set aside pan with juices.
  • Finely grate remaining garlic clove into another small bowl. Add za'atar, coriander, lemon zest, and lime zest. Pour reserved juices in pan into za'atar mixture until you've reached an oily consistency (about 1/3 cup). Mix in a pinch of salt.
  • Spread reserved yogurt sauce over a platter and arrange chicken legs on top. Scatter onions, garlic, and lemon around; drizzle with za'atar oil.

OVEN-ROASTED ZA'ATAR CHICKEN BREASTS



Oven-Roasted Za'atar Chicken Breasts image

This za'atar-marinated chicken gets an extra dose of za'atar seasoning right before being roasted in the oven for a tender and juicy meal. Za'atar is a Middle Eastern spice blend found in most spice shops or you can make your own using one of the many recipes found online. Serve the za'atar chicken with couscous, roasted potatoes, or atop a salad.

Provided by France C

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Chicken Breast Recipes

Time 2h30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 tablespoons za'atar seasoning, divided
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
cooking spray
salt to taste

Steps:

  • Pound chicken breasts to a 1-inch thickness for even cooking. Place in a large resealable plastic bag.
  • Combine 2 tablespoons za'atar seasoning, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic in a small bowl. Pour mixture over the chicken and toss to coat evenly. Seal the bag and refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray.
  • Place chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with remaining za'atar seasoning.
  • Roast in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 23 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Season with salt.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 201.9 calories, Carbohydrate 3 g, Cholesterol 67.2 mg, Fat 9.8 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 24.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 100.3 mg, Sugar 0.2 g

GRILLED ZA'ATAR CHICKEN WITH GARLIC YOGURT AND CILANTRO



Grilled Za'atar Chicken With Garlic Yogurt and Cilantro image

This garlicky, herby chicken is full-flavored and very tender, thanks to its piquant yogurt marinade. It's flexible, too - marinate the meat for as little as a couple of hours, or as long as overnight. And the chicken is just as good cooked under the broiler as it is on the grill (see Tip). You can serve this dish with almost anything, but it's especially nice with pita or other flatbread and a big cucumber and tomato salad. And if you're looking to substitute chicken breasts for the thighs, you can. Just watch them carefully; they're likely to cook faster than the dark meat.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     poultry, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

6 garlic cloves, finely grated, pressed, or minced
2 lemons, zested
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more sprigs for garnish
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
1 1/2 tablespoons za'atar, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or marjoram, plus more sprigs for garnish
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Steps:

  • In a large bowl or container, stir together 5 of the grated garlic cloves, half the lemon zest, 1/3 cup yogurt, the cilantro, oil, za'atar, oregano or marjoram, salt and black pepper. Add chicken and toss until well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  • When ready to cook, light the grill to medium or heat your broiler with the rack 3 inches from the heat source. Remove chicken from bowl, shaking off any excess marinade, and grill or broil on one side until charred in spots, 5 to 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and grill or broil for another 5 to 8 minutes, until just cooked through.
  • While the chicken is cooking, place remaining 2/3 cup yogurt in a small bowl. Stir in the reserve grated garlic clove and lemon zest, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cut one zested lemon in half and set aside for serving (save the other zested lemon for another use).
  • To serve, place chicken on a serving platter and drizzle with olive oil and a large squeeze of the zested lemon. Top with cilantro and oregano or marjoram sprigs and serve with yogurt sauce.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND ZA'ATAR



Roast Chicken With Lemon and Za'atar image

This plump and juicy roast chicken benefits from tenderizing in a yogurt-lemon-garlic marinade for as long as 24 hours, but if you don't have a lot of time, slathering it with the mixture before sliding it into the oven will still add flavor, and give the spices something to stick to. Za'atar, a Middle Eastern herb-and-spice blend, can still be hard to find in the supermarket, so make your own by combining sumac, sesame seeds, thyme, coriander, oregano and cumin. You can buy sumac, a garnet-colored lemony spice, in Middle Eastern markets or online, but the rest of the ingredients are most likely already on your spice rack, and leaving out one or two of them is perfectly O.K. If you have a premade za'atar blend on hand, you'll need about 1/2 cup to coat the chicken.

Provided by Susan Spungen

Categories     dinner, poultry, roasts, main course

Time 4h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 cup plain full- or reduced-fat Greek yogurt
3 lemons (1 lemon zested and juiced; 2 lemons, halved)
2 large garlic cloves, finely grated
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 (4- to 5-pound) whole chicken
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons toasted white sesame seeds (see Tip)
2 tablespoons sumac (optional)
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
3 medium shallots, peeled and halved lengthwise

Steps:

  • In a shallow bowl, stir together yogurt, zest and juice of 1 lemon, garlic and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season the chicken inside and out with 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the bowl and coat with the yogurt mixture inside and out. Cover and refrigerate until cooking, up to 24 hours.
  • Heat oven to 400 degrees. Make the za'atar: In a small bowl, mix sesame seeds, sumac (if using), thyme, coriander, oregano, cumin and 1 tablespoon salt. Remove chicken from marinade and gently scrape off excess yogurt while leaving a nice coating. Transfer chicken to a sheet of parchment or wax paper. Coat chicken all over with the za'atar blend. Scrape up any spices that fall off and pack them on. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon oil and pat gently.
  • Put 1 lemon half in the cavity of the bird. Tie legs together using butcher's twine, if desired, and place chicken in a small roasting pan. Arrange remaining 3 lemon halves and shallots cut-sides down in the pan surrounding the chicken. Add 1/4 cup water to the pan and roast on the middle rack for 30 minutes.
  • Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees, gently baste the chicken and add another 1/4 cup water. Roast for an additional 60 to 75 minutes, rotating the pan periodically. Turn the lemon and shallots occasionally, basting once or twice and add 1/4 cup water whenever the pan juices dry out. Cook until until the legs wiggle easily and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
  • Let chicken rest 10 to 15 minutes before carving. Pour the pan juices (add a few tablespoons of water first, if they are very reduced) into a small gravy boat, degreasing or skimming some fat, if desired. Serve the chicken with the juices and the roasted shallots.

Tips and Conclusion

Tips:
  • To achieve maximum flavor, utilize high-quality, fresh ingredients. Select plump tomatoes and cucumbers for the salad and ensure that the za'atar blend is fresh and aromatic.
  • If you're unable to locate za'atar, you can make your own by combining equal parts dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, and sumac. Add some toasted sesame seeds for an extra nutty flavor.
  • For a crispier chicken, marinate it in the yogurt mixture for at least 30 minutes before cooking. You can also shallow fry the chicken instead of grilling it, if desired.
  • To make a creamy and flavorful garlic yogurt sauce, use whole milk yogurt and blend it with plenty of minced garlic, lemon juice, and fresh herbs. Adjust the consistency by adding more yogurt or water as needed.
  • Serve the za'atar chicken with a variety of accompaniments, such as grilled vegetables, hummus, tabbouleh, or pita bread. This will create a delicious and satisfying meal.
Conclusion: Zesty and flavorful, this za'atar chicken with garlicky yogurt is a delightful dish that captures the essence of Middle Eastern cuisine. The combination of zesty za'atar spice blend, tender chicken, and creamy garlic yogurt creates a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Whether you're hosting a dinner party or simply craving a flavorful meal, this recipe is sure to impress. It's easy to make, packed with nutrition, and guaranteed to become a favorite in your recipe repertoire.

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