Za'atar Fried Chicken
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
I can remember my love for garlic, or “toum,” since I was a little kid. I recall secret midnight snacks of Arabic bread generously smothered with the garlic sauce. This practice continues today, at which point my husband tends to disappear…This garlic sauce is probably like none other you’ve tasted before (unless you’ve eaten a whole clove of garlic in raw form and in one go). It’s best eaten with chicken. Don’t use olive oil, as it tends to give a bitter taste and discoloration. You can leave the chicken to marinate overnight, if preferred. We mainly eat garlic sauce with grilled chicken, in chicken shawarma sandwiches or thick slices of heirloom tomatoes.
Author: Bethany
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- For the chicken:
- 1 egg
- 125ml/4fl oz/1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 4 tbsp za’atar
- 2 tsp sumac
- 11/2 tsp sea salt
- 115g/4oz/scant 1 cup plain flour
- 80g/23/4oz/11/3 cups panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ tsp allspice
- 4 chicken legs, skin on
- For the garlic sauce:
- 1 garlic bulb, separated and crushed
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 egg white
- about 250ml/9fl oz/1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- To make the chicken, put the egg, yogurt, chopped garlic, za’atar, sumac and ½ teaspoon of the salt in a mixing bowl and mix well.
- Put the flour, breadcrumbs, remaining salt and the allspice into a large zippable plastic bag, seal and shake to combine.
- Toss the chicken legs in the yogurt mixture, making sure all the pieces are well covered, then add to the flour bag and shake well, so that all the pieces are well coated with the crumb mixture. Transfer the coated chicken pieces to a plate, cover and set aside in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the garlic sauce. Either pound the garlic cloves and the remaining salt to form a thin paste, using a mortar and pestle, or whizz the garlic and salt in a small food processor. Add the lemon juice and pound or whizz again until the mixture forms a thin paste. Add the egg white and keep mixing until the sauce is bubbly and smooth. Trickle the oil in, about a teaspoon at a time, every 30 seconds or so for about 2 minutes or until you’ve reached soft peaks.
- Remove the chicken from the fridge and repeat step 3.
- Heat enough oil for deep-frying in a pan, and when the temperature reaches 170ºC/325ºF, carefully add the chicken legs, being sure not to overcrowd, and cook for a total of 10–15 minutes (turning over if they look to be browning unevenly) until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 180ºC/350ºF.
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who wants to make za’atar fried chicken? New recipe up on DKS http://t.co/eWYEFhtX plus a giveaway
More Secret ‘Crispy Chicken’ from the Dirty Kitchen and a FREE ticket giveaway for Food Blogger Connect 2012. Wowsa! http://t.co/pEzGZ17Z
Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/CgvGdhSN
Do not miss this! Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/D8soeIjy http://t.co/UMluY3gF
What drives me insane is knowing that the best food blogging conference in Europe (world?) is in my capital city – and it’s hosted and attended by the BEST food bloggers! 🙂
The Za’atar Fried Chicken looks great too!
Wow Bethany, you sound super busy (and you’re still blogging more than I am!)
Hope I’ll be able to make FBC this year, would be wonderful to see you (and everyone else) again!
you are genius @Bethanykd who wants to make za’atar fried chicken? New recipe up on DKS http://t.co/FH31fIh1
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Lovin’ the Chicken and a F.B.C 2012 – London – Ticket Giveaway!… You spoil us.
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????? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ?????????? ??? Food Bloggers Connect ??????? http://t.co/YnFWceFe
Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/GB4YK8Fk http://t.co/Hmd08Ttr
@veggiexperience @Hassanmirza @veggiexperience @facelessfood @helenkwills try this #fbc12 giveaway http://t.co/fje5QRQR
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What drives me insane? Trying to eat less fried food and being tempted by wonderful recipes like this! Maybe if I eat salad for a whole week…
@Bethanykd is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass. Enter to win this amazing prize: http://t.co/dFEuoQEr !
I’d love to win this giveaway just to laugh with you as much as last year. That was insane! 🙂
Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/RZwagcAk http://t.co/cHBWEsFx
What drives me insane? My willpower when it comes to position control! Another fabulous giveaway! Last year was fantastic and this year promises to be even better 🙂
@Bethanykd A fab giveaway! RT Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/BmexKX52
Za’atar Fried Chicken & an ‘Insane’ #FBC12 All Weekend & Workshop Giveaway http://t.co/3JpESFCV
Running out of milk for tea in the morning, people eating with their mouth open, walking behind slow people who take up the entire pavement, and the heat in September in Dubai …..please help me escape the latter! Great giveaway – would LOVE to come again.
Love za’atar fried chicken! RT @Bethanykd: Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/4qEzf56E
I love this blending of Middle Eastern and Southern fare. How could you go wrong with za’atar and sumac?
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People saying they can cook when they can’t and not letting me take over!
What drives me insane? People tapping their fingers or clicking a pen on and off…arrggghhh!
Really hope I win the Food @bloggerconnect 2012 full weekend pass access all workshops! http://t.co/3JpESFCV It’s insane!
Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/ocv317FH http://t.co/RZwagcAk
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What drives me insane? Not having the technical know-how to fix things on my computer and blog! I want my blog to do stuff it can’t do!
Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/xA7ysoVO http://t.co/t8E3ocTX
So happy to hear and see everyone appreciating the giveaway http://t.co/eWYEFhtX Also craving some of that chicken now, perfect for breaky.
@Bethanykd is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/dFEuoQEr
“@ziziadventures: @Bethanykd is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/yt3DOArF” yes go 4 it and join in to win amazing pass
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FBC12 will be my first time to FBC. I’ve already booked it. Your giveaway is really motivating and quite unusual with all the possibilities you give to have points.
That’s really an irresistable giveaway.
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Za’atar Fried Chicken & an ‘Insane’ #FBC12 All Weekend & Workshop Giveaway http://t.co/3JpESFCV @Bethanykd
“@Wonderfoodland: Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/yt3DOArF http://t.co/n4RLtXrD” go for it!!
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Over a 1000 contestants so far!….And still 4 days to go!!!!.Please let it be ME.
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Over 1000 entries and counting @Bethanykd is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass, 4 days left to enter! http://t.co/wRiWMx7f !
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Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/Pd8lBvC1
I would go insane if it really worked out to win a full access, visa, and actually get to attend such an event
O.M.G Beth. That chicken looks amazing. Love zaatar anyway but added to fried chicken? Heavenly. That photo makes me want to dive in too – so inviting.
24 hours left to win a fab pass to Food Blogger Connect in sept2012 in London. & great chicken recipe in the bargain http://t.co/kCst783k
What drives me insane? Wanting to do more with my blog and not knowing how!
Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/ToivgYQb @Bethanykd @bloggerconnect
I’m in! Win a Food Blogger Connect 2012 full weekend pass with access to all workshops! #FBC12 http://t.co/SOuI7w0X
What drives me insane? The amazing fresh produce this summer – gonna try so many new recipes!
Za’atar Fried Chicken & an ‘Insane’ #FBC12 All Weekend & Workshop Giveaway | Dirty Kitchen Secrets http://t.co/Le2eFOv9
@Bethanykd is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/dFEuoQEr http://t.co/cbIIEfoH
Less than 15 hours to enter @Bethanykd ‘s #FBC12 ‘insane’ ticket giveaway with access to all workshops @bloggerconnect. http://t.co/i5CExbJQ
Lovely @Bethanykd from Dirty Kitchen Secrets is giving away 1 “insane” #FBC12 weekend pass http://t.co/9XfzwMuV http://t.co/YncEDtwg
made fried chicken for the first time (well, first time not with cutlets). Not too bad as picnic food. http://t.co/8FblwAu2
Chick Chicken! http://t.co/b5GOIMPDX4
Help! My appetite wants 1 thing and 1 thing only! Zaatar fried chicken @Bethanykd http://t.co/B3hEAuGLF4 http://t.co/ptgFlj46bC
RT @Kehdy: Help! My appetite wants 1 thing and 1 thing only! Zaatar fried chicken @Bethanykd http://t.co/B3hEAuGLF4 http://t.co/ptgFlj46bC