Sometime ago I had read about the wonderful flavors of ras el hanout spice mix. One taste and it instantly became a pantry staple. Ras el hanout has a heady scent that could be described as a bit exotic and mysterious.
I have used ras el hanout in recipes like this colorful carrot dish with whipped tahini and this healthy broccoli spoon salad. Ras el hanout adds a warm, aromatic flavor to whatever you use it in.
Since no two ras el hanout recipes are the same, try a few and see which one you like best. I’m a fan of Morton & Basset’s spice combination of coriander, paprika, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, red pepper, turmeric, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice.
This dish takes very little effort to prepare. The chicken is marinated for just 1 hour before being grilled.
Squeeze a bit of lemon juice over the top after grilling and season with the flakiest sea salt you have.
There are many side dishes that go well with ras el hanout grilled chicken. Try saffron rice, Palace potatoes, grilled asparagus or Taverna salad and good hearty bread.
Ras el Hanout Grilled Chicken
2-3
servingsIngredients
1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
2 tablespoons ras el hanout spice mix
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice + lemon wedges for serving
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
1 teaspoon kosher salt (I use Diamond Crystal)
2 teaspoons chopped parsley
Directions
- Pound chicken breasts to 1/2- inch thickness. You may do this earlier in the day. Cover and refrigerate.
- In a small bowl, combine ras el hanout spice mix, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and kosher salt.
- Rub spice mixture on both sides of the chicken breasts. Cover and refrigerated for 1 hour.
- Preheat gas grill to medium-high. Once heated, turn grill down to medium heat and grill chicken on both sides until an instant read thermometer reads 157-160 degrees. Remove chicken to a serving plate. Squeeze a bit of lemon juice over the top and garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
- Leftover grilled chicken makes tasty sandwiches. Slice chicken and layer on sourdough or your favorite bread along with mayonnaise, mustard, onions, tomato, arugula and a slice of Swiss cheese.