Welcome to Kelly’s Kitchen! This recipe for Spicy Roast Chicken with Yogurt Sauce, by Kay Chun popped up in a daily email from NYT Cooking the other day. It’s a Mediterranean dish inspired by the halal street food carts in NYC. Spiced baked chicken alongside a refreshing lettuce and tomato salad dressed with a tangy yogurt dressing can be served over rice, or wrapped in a pita – it’s as close to restaurant-style Mediterranean food as I have ever made, a winner for sure! Let’s get to it.
Today we are making Spicy Roast Chicken with Yogurt Sauce
Be sure to find the shoppable key ingredients and equipment
For the Roasted Chicken
¼ cup Neutral Oil, such as safflower or canola
5 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 tbsp. Ground Coriander
1½ tsp. Ground Sweet Paprika
1 tsp. Ground Cumin
1 tsp. Dried Oregano
½ tsp. Granulated Onion
¼ cup Chopped Cilantro
2 tbsp. Lemon Juice, plus wedges for serving
2 lbs. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
For the Yogurt Sauce
½ cup plain Greek Yogurt
¼ cup plus 2 tbsp. Mayonnaise
1 tbsp. Distilled White Vinegar
¾ tsp. Granulated Sugar
A big pinch of Granulated Garlic
A big pinch of Granulated Onion
Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
To Serve:
1 small head of Iceberg Lettuce, shredded
2 medium Tomatoes, diced
Warm Pita Bread
Hot Sauce (optional)
Step 1
Heat oven to 450 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the oil, fresh garlic, coriander, paprika, cumin, oregano, and granulated onion with half of the cilantro and half of the lemon juice; mix well. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat evenly.
Step 2
Spread the seasoned chicken in a single layer on a large sheet pan and roast until golden and caramelized, about 20 minutes.
While the chicken roasts, make the white sauce: In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, granulated garlic, and granulated onion; season with salt and pepper, then mix well; set aside.
Add the remaining cilantro and lemon juice to the roasted chicken and mix well, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Divide chicken, lettuce, and tomatoes among 4 plates and drizzle with some of the white sauce. Serve with lemon wedges, plus pita and hot sauce, if using.
As I mentioned, this recipe is a restaurant-worthy Mediterranean dish. I think the only thing I will change when I make this again, is that I will grill the chicken to get that smoky grill flavor – it’s the only improvement I can think of! This recipe is so quick and so easy, it's a perfect weeknight meal. I hope you give this recipe a try! Take care and be well, xo Kelly
1. Serve over saffron rice. for a more complete meal, serve over rice.
2. Try serving in a pita or as a wrap. Use a flour tortilla or large flatbread to create a wrap sandwich.
3. Grill the chicken instead of baking. Use a perforated grill pan or skewer the chicken pieces for a smoky flavor.
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is our 40s+ fashion & food contributor. She posts a Daily Look on Tuesdays, writes about Fashion on Thursdays, joins Beth for Fridays with Oscar and shares a new recipe Sunday evenings.
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