Lebanese Lemon Chicken Recipe

Today, we’re going to unveil the secrets behind a mouthwatering Lebanese Lemon Garlic Chicken recipe that’s sure to leave you craving more. And that’s not all – we’ll also explore the refreshing and vibrant flavours of a delightful Tabbouleh summer salad that perfectly complements the succulent chicken. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and indulge in this flavoursome feast!

The Lemon Garlic Marinade – A Burst of Zest:

Picture this: 8 cloves of garlic, fresh lemon juice, and olive oil, all blended into a smooth and fragrant marinade. We’re not holding back on the garlic – this recipe is an ode to all the garlic lovers out there! The lemon’s tanginess and the garlic’s richness combine to create a medley of flavours that’ll make your taste buds sing with delight.

Marinating Magic for the Chicken:

Now that we have our tantalizing marinade ready, it’s time to work its magic on the chicken. Whether you prefer drumsticks, thighs, or wings, they’ll all bask in the flavours of the marinade. To ensure the chicken absorbs all the goodness, we’ve got a little trick up our sleeves – marinating in ziplock bags! This nifty technique allows the marinade to coat every inch of the chicken, resulting in tender, juicy, and flavour-packed pieces.

Patience Pays Off – Letting the Chicken Soak in Flavours:

We all know patience is a virtue, and it certainly rings true when it comes to marinating. While an hour is the minimum marinating time, we highly recommend giving it at least 4 hours or even better, letting it rest overnight. Trust us, that extra time allows the lemon juice to work its magic, tenderising the chicken to perfection and infusing it with delectable flavours.

A Glazed and Fragrant Feast – Roasting the Chicken:

As the chicken emerges from its flavour-infused slumber, we preheat the oven and get ready to roast this masterpiece. The chicken enters the oven, and the kitchen is soon filled with an irresistible aroma that’ll have your mouth watering. Roasting at 190°C (375°F), the chicken takes on a beautiful glaze, ensuring each bite is an explosion of flavour.

Lebanese Lemon Chicken Recipe

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Learn how to make this Lebanese Lemon Chicken Recipe. The chicken becomes so tender after just a few hours in the marinade, it takes on all the flavours of the garlic and lemon as well as all the spices, smoked paprika, cumin, coriander (cilantro), black pepper, thyme and bay leaf. This recipe is not to be missed

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 x pieces of chicken (drumsticks, thighs)
• 1/2 bulb of garlic or 8 cloves
• The juice of 3 lemons (1/2 cup / 125ml)
• 2 tablespoons or 30ml of olive oil
• 2 x teaspoons of smoked paprika
• 1 x teaspoon of ground cumin
• 1 x teaspoon of ground coriander
• 1 x teaspoon of cracked black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried chilli flakes
• 1 x teaspoon of fresh or dried thyme leaves
• 4 x bay leaves
• 1 x teaspoon of salt

Instructions

1. Peel the garlic and juice the lemons
2. Add them to a blender and blend until you have a smooth liquid, then add the olive oil and pulse it in.
3. Pour that into a mixing bowl. Then add all the herbs and spices listed in the ingredients, give it a whisk and add the chicken to the marinade.
4. Place into ziplock bags or leave in the bowl to marinate from 1 to ideally 24 hours.
5. When you’re ready to cook your chicken, preheat your oven to 190C / 375F, take the chicken out of the marinade and place it onto a roasting tray. Keep the marinade to one side for a mid-cook baste.
6. Roast the chicken for around 45 minutes or until well cooked and falling off the bone, the ultimate flavour boost baste it halfway with the leftover marinade.