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A green plate with yellow rice, chicken, white sauce and red sauce and chopped salad, a green glass with water, a second green plate with yellow rice and chicken, a small bowl with red sauce, a small bowl with white sauce and a black and white tea towel on a beige marble background.
4.97 from 26 ratings

Homemade Halal Cart Chicken & Rice

Yield: 6 Servings
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Author: Amina Al-Saigh
The famous Halal Cart Chicken and Rice recipe is so easy to make at home, and this recipe is even better than the real thing! With flavourful perfecly seasoned chicken, fluffy fragrant yellow rice and the most delicious white sauce, serve it with lots of crunchy salad and hot sauce for the perfect plate!
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Ingredients
 

For the Chicken

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless, chicken thighs, cut into 1-2 inch pieces
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder

For the Yellow Rice

  • 2 cups long grain basmati rice, washed and drained
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 cardamom pods
  • 3 cups chicken broth

For the White Sauce

  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste

To Serve

  • hot sauce, any brand
  • 1/2 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
  • 2 Persian cucumbers, chopped
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 1/4 red onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

For the Chicken

  • Begin by placing the cut up chicken thigh pieces in a medium sized bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the vinegar, minced garlic, salt, pepper, coriander, paprika, cumin and onion powder. Mix well, cover and set aside for at least 30 minutes, or overnight in the fridge.
  • In a medium sized skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat. Once hot, add in the seasoned chicken pieces, making sure to spread them out. You may need to do this in batches to prevent over crowding and to get a sear on the chicken. Cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes, flip and stir and continue to cook for another 3-4 minutes until the chicken is golden brown and fully cooked. Set aside.

For the Rice

  • In a medium sized pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the turmeric, salt, cinnamon stick and cardamom pods. Cook for 20 seconds. Add the washed and drained basmati rice and stir until the grains are all coated with the spices. Pour in the broth. Once the rice comes to a boil, cover with a tight fitting lid, reduce the heat and cook undisturbed for 20 minutes. Once cooked, fluff with a fork and set aside. Note: Start the rice first, then cook the chicken while the rice cooks.

For the White Sauce

  • In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, yogurt, vinegar, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk well until smooth.

To Serve

  • Mix the chopped salad ingredients together and dress with the olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper.
  • To serve, plate the yellow rice, top it with the chicken, and serve with the chopped salad. Drizzle on the white sauce and hot sauce.

Notes

  • For best results, marinate the chicken for 4 hours or overnight.
  • It's best to sear the chicken on high heat and ensure you don't over crowd the pan so every piece is caramelized.
  • Any hot sauce works here but my favourite to use is Sirarcha.
Serving: 1Serving, Calories: 663kcal, Carbohydrates: 56g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 32g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 16g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 155mg, Sodium: 1623mg, Potassium: 591mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 144IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 115mg, Iron: 3mg
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