Musakhan (Sumac Chicken and Onions on Flatbread)
Local name: مسخن
In short: Roast chicken piled on olive-oil flatbread over a bed of soft sumac onions, finished with toasted pine nuts and eaten with the hands. It takes about 1 h 35 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 1 h 5 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 35 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 700 kcal
Musakhan is the dish most closely tied to the Palestinian olive harvest. A mountain of onions is cooked slowly in olive oil with sumac and allspice until soft and glossy, then spread on flatbread with roasted chicken on top. The bread soaks up the juices and the oil, and the pine nuts add crunch. Traditionally it is served on a large shared platter and eaten with the hands.
Instructions
- Mix the oil, sumac, allspice, cinnamon, cumin, salt and pepper and rub it over the chicken. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
- Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F). Roast the chicken skin side up on a tray for 40 to 45 minutes, until the skin is browned and the thickest piece reaches 74°C (165°F).
- Meanwhile, cook the onions in the 80 ml of olive oil in a wide pan over medium-low heat for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring now and then, until very soft and golden. Do not let them brown hard.
- Stir the sumac, allspice and salt into the onions and cook for 5 more minutes.
- Lower the oven to 200°C (400°F). Brush the flatbreads lightly with oil and lay them on trays. Spread each with a layer of onions and a spoonful of the chicken juices.
- Bake the breads for 6 to 8 minutes until the edges are crisp. Stack them on a platter, top with the chicken and any remaining onions, then scatter with pine nuts and parsley.
Tips
- Use plenty of sumac. It gives the onions a fruity tartness that is the heart of the dish. Buy it from a shop that sells it deep red, not brown.
- No taboon bread? Large pita or lavash works well. For a lighter version, wrap a portion of onions and chicken in each round and bake as rolls.
Questions and answers
Can I make musakhan ahead?
Cook the onions and chicken a day ahead. Warm the onions, assemble on fresh bread and bake just before serving so the bread stays crisp at the edges.
What can I serve with musakhan?
Yogurt, a simple tomato and cucumber salad and pickles. It is usually a full meal with no other main dish.
What is sumac?
A dark red ground berry with a lemony, fruity sourness. It is used in Palestinian cooking on salads, meat and onions, and is sold in Middle Eastern shops and many supermarkets.
How long does it take to make Musakhan (Sumac Chicken and Onions on Flatbread)?
About 1 h 35 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 1 h 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Musakhan (Sumac Chicken and Onions on Flatbread)?
About 700 kcal per serving, with 34 g of protein, 58 g of carbohydrates and 36 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 700 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 34 g |
| Carbohydrates | 58 g |
| Fat | 36 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 11 g |
| Sodium | 1400 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
