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–+ servings

Roz Mendi (Spiced Rice With Chicken)

Roz Mendi rice topped with baked chicken
Roz Mendi is a fragrant, oven-baked Middle Eastern rice and chicken dish packed with bold spices like cardamom, cinnamon, biryani spice, and dried limes. Seasoned chicken is slow-roasted right on top of aromatic Basmati rice in one pan, then served with a bright fresh salsa. Perfect for family dinners and special occasions, this authentic Palestinian recipe is easier to make than it looks!
Serves 8 people
Total Time:2 hours
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Ingredients

Chicken

  • 1 whole chicken about 4–5 pounds
  • 1 tbsp vinegar
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 package Sazon seasoning
  • 1 –2 tbsp lemon pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 –2 tbsp paprika
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 –2 tbsp garlic powder

Rice

  • 2 cups Basmati Rice
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1½ tbsp biryani spice
  • ½ tbsp allspice
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 6 bay leaves
  • 8 cardamoms
  • 2 dried limes/lemons
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
  • 3 cups boiling water

Salsa

  • 1 tomato
  • 1 small onion
  • ½ a jalapeño
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp ginger paste or minced ginger
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • ½ cup cilantro
  • 1½ tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Chicken

  • Cut the chicken down the center into halves. Wash well with water. Put it in a salt, lemon juice, olive oil, and vinegar bath to clean for 10–15 minutes. Then rinse again. Set aside in a bowl.
  • Season the chicken with the above seasoning on both sides. Rub it all in together and get it under the chicken skin too.

Rice

  • Soak the rice in water for 10–15 minutes. Drain, then add all the spices and mix well.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Place rice in a baking pan (a Pyrex works well). Spread it out. Add 3 cups of boiling water — make sure water is covering the rice. Cover with two layers of aluminum foil. Poke the foil with a toothpick throughout the entire surface.
  • Gently place the chicken halves on top of the aluminum that has been poked with holes. Cover with another layer of aluminum foil very well.
  • Place in preheated oven for about 1½ hours. Check at 1 hour to see if chicken is cooked. Cooking time depends on size of chicken.
  • In the meantime, make the salsa.

Salsa

  • Blend all the ingredients together in a food processor for about a minute.
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