Name: Chicken fatteh
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 cup (loosely packed) coriander; 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 150 ml olive oil; 1 kg boneless chicken thighs, skin on; 30 gm butter; 1 tbsp ground cumin; 1 tsp ground coriander seeds; 1 tsp ground ginger; 1 tsp Turkish chilli flakes (see note); ½ tsp tsp ground turmeric; Pinch of saffron, lightly toasted and crushed; 400 gm canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed; 12 golden shallots, peeled; 12 cherry tomatoes, blistered under a grill (2-3 minutes), peeled; 6 small thyme sprigs; 1 tsp dried Greek oregano (see note); 600 ml hot chicken stock; Juice of 1 lemon; 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 4 sheets mountain bread (see note); 40 gm slivered almonds; 40 gm pine nuts; 200 gm Greek-style yoghurt

Chicken fatteh

You too can make the pita-topped creation that combines layers of chickpeas, meat and yoghurt for a deeply comforting result.

Serves 6

Prep

40M

Cook

40M

Total

1H 20M

“The term fatteh comes from the Arabic word ‘fatta’, meaning to crumble bread, and it’s a dish loved all over the Arab world,” says Malouf, “My version pairs spiced chicken with yoghurt, nuts and coriander-garlic sauce, and of course, plenty of toasted bread.”

Ingredients

1 cup (loosely packed) coriander

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

150 ml olive oil

1 kg boneless chicken thighs, skin on

30 gm butter

1 tbsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander seeds

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp Turkish chilli flakes (see note)

½ tsp tsp ground turmeric

Pinch of saffron, lightly toasted and crushed

400 gm canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed

12 golden shallots, peeled

12 cherry tomatoes, blistered under a grill (2-3 minutes), peeled

6 small thyme sprigs

1 tsp dried Greek oregano (see note)

600 ml hot chicken stock

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

4 sheets mountain bread (see note)

40 gm slivered almonds

40 gm pine nuts

200 gm Greek-style yoghurt

Method

1.Preheat oven to 200°C. Blend coriander, 2 garlic cloves, 60ml olive oil and a pinch of salt in a blender until smooth.

2.Heat a large ovenproof saucepan over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and white pepper. Heat 1½ tbsp oil in pan, then add butter, spices and remaining garlic. Cook until fragrant (1 minute), add chicken, turn to coat, then remove from pan. Add chickpeas, shallots, tomatoes, thyme, oregano and stock to pan and season to taste. Place chicken on top, add lemon juice and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Bake on middle shelf until chicken is cooked through (20-30 minutes; juices will run clear when pierced with a skewer).

3.Tear bread into pieces, reserving 1 piece, and roast torn bread in 2 large oven trays in a single layer until golden brown and crisp (4-6 minutes).

4.Heat remaining olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add almonds and stir constantly, until lightly coloured (3-4 minutes). Remove with a slotted spoon and cool on paper towels. Repeat with pine nuts.

5.Reduce oven to 180°C. Layer half the chicken and cooking liquid in a large (about 2 litres) ovenproof serving bowl with half each of the chickpea mixture, yoghurt and toasted mountain bread. Repeat layering, top with 2 generous spoonfuls of coriander purée, sprinkle with fried nuts, cover bowl with reserved sheet of mountain bread and bake until golden (5 minutes). Remove top sheet of bread, spoon over remaining coriander purée and serve.

Turkish chilli flakes are available from Middle Eastern grocers. Dried Greek oregano (rigani) is available from Greek delicatessens. Mountain bread is available from supermarkets.
Drink suggestion: Pale but gutsy Bandol rosé. Drink suggestion by Max Allen.
Notes

Greg Malouf

Styling by Lynsey Fryers