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Chicken fatteh

You too can make the pita-topped creation that combines layers of chickpeas, meat and yoghurt for a deeply comforting result.
Chicken fattehBen Dearnley
6
40M
40M
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

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

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