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Mediterranean Bowl

by

Derek Farwagi

No ratings yet
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean
Calories

Equipment

  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Four small bowls to keep prepped ingredients
  • Small Saucepan
  • grill pan or skillet

Ingredients
  

  • ½ Small sized red onion or quarter of a large one
  • ½ cup Red wine vinegar
  • 4 tbsp Tahini paste
  • 1 Small lemon
  • 1 Garlic clove crushed
  • 1 tsp Aleppo pepper or chilli flakes
  • 3 Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp Za'atar (see recipe note below)
  • 1 tbsp tbsp Sumac (see recipe note below)
  • ½ cup Coarse grain bulgur wheat
  • A Handful Coarsely chopped walnuts
  • 1 Zuchini
  • Salt

Instructions
 

  • Cut a small red onion lengthwise then thinly slice one half in crescent shaped slices. Soak in red wine vinegar and set aside.
  • Into a small mixing bowl, add 4 tablespoons tahini paste, the juice of one small lemon Mix well untill it thickens then slowly add 3 tablespoons of water and stir well till you get the consistency of thick cream. Add one pressed garlic clove, a teaspoon Aleppo pepper or chilli flakes and salt to taste.
  • Boil water and while it  is warming up, flatten the chicken thighs and cut them into a half inch wide strips and set aside.
  • In a medium sized mixing bowl mix two tablespoons of olive oil, a teaspoon of salt, two tablespoons Za’atar and one tablespoon Sumac.
  • Mix chicken in the Za’atar marinade making sure that all the strips are well coated and set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, add bulgur wheat and pour 3/4 cup of the hot water and a teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 10 minutes on a low heat. Remove from heat and add a handful of coarsely chopped walnuts. Fluff up the bulgur wheat and set aside in the pan.
  • Heat a grill pan on medium high heat. While it is heating up, slice the zucchini in quarter inch slices.
  • Grill zucchini slices for 2 minutes each side without trurning them. Add a pinch of salt and set aside in a bowl or plate.
  • Grill the chicken strips for 2 minutes each side without turning.
  • Assemble bowls.
    On a bed of fluffed up bulgur wheat put a layer of zucchini. Add a layer of Za’atar chicken strips and drizzle generously with the Tahini sauce.
  • Drain the onions, garnish each bowl and serve at room temperature with extra tahini on the side.
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Notes

Za'atar is a delicious, aromatic, dried thyme based spice and herb mix readily available from Middle Eastern food stores. You can also make your own - see recipe on this page.
Sumac is a lemony spice readily available from Middle Eastern food stores.
Bulgur wheat is available in most good supermarkets and on Amazon
You can strip the chicken thighs the night before and marinate overnight for a fuller flavor and quicker prep time.
Use chicken stock instead of water for added flavor to the bulgur wheat. 
Keyword Bowl, chicken, tahini