Maftoul with chicken - a specialty of Palestine

Chicken Maftoul Recipe: A Traditional Delight

Maftoul is a dish that combines the rich taste of ingredients with a story full of tradition and community. This recipe, specific to a place rich in history and culture, is often prepared for special occasions, such as weddings or funerals, being a popular choice due to its consistency and savory flavors. Today, I will guide you step by step in preparing a delicious Chicken Maftoul that is sure to impress your family and friends.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Total: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Servings: 6-8 servings

Necessary Ingredients

- 1 large chicken (approximately 1.5 kg)
- 1 kg maftoul (dried or frozen)
- 1/2 kg small potatoes
- 1/2 kg small onions (approximately 5-6 onions)
- 1 large onion
- 5 large carrots
- 1/2 kg small tomatoes
- 1 can of cooked chickpeas (approximately 400 g)
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons palm margarine
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- A special pot for maftoul (composed of 2 stacked pots with a perforated base)

Preparing the Chicken

1. Cleaning and Cutting the Chicken: Start by cleaning the chicken, removing any leftover feathers. Cut it into quarters for easier cooking and serving. This step is essential for ensuring even cooking of the meat.

2. Boiling the Chicken: Place the cut chicken in the pressure cooker, add enough water to cover it, a teaspoon of salt, a whole large onion, and the halved carrots. Boil the chicken for 30 minutes. This step will create a flavorful broth, essential for preparing the maftoul.

3. Straining the Broth: After boiling, strain the chicken broth and transfer it to the lower pot of the special maftoul apparatus. Make sure the broth fills about 2/3 of the capacity of the lower pot.

Preparing the Maftoul

4. Preparing the Maftoul: In the upper pot, add the maftoul (make sure it is dried or thawed), finely chopped small onion, cumin, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Add the palm margarine for extra flavor. Cover the pot and wait for the steam to start.

5. Steaming: When the broth begins to boil, the upper pot will start filling with steam. Let the maftoul cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure it doesn’t stick.

6. Adding the Vegetables: After 25 minutes, add the peeled potatoes (if larger, cut them in halves or quarters) and the large pieces of carrots to the lower pot, in the chicken broth. After 10 minutes, add the chopped tomatoes, and after another 5 minutes, add the canned chickpeas and tomato paste.

Preparing the Oven Chicken

7. Preparing the Chicken for the Oven: Meanwhile, take the boiled chicken and place it in a baking tray. Add about 1/2 cup of the chicken broth, brush it with ketchup, and season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Drizzle each piece of chicken with olive oil for a delicious crust.

8. Baking the Chicken: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius and bake the chicken for 25-30 minutes, or until it becomes golden and crispy.

Assembling and Serving

9. Assembling the Dish: On a large platter, remove the maftoul and add 2-3 ladles of chicken broth on top. Scatter the tomatoes, onions, chickpeas, potatoes from the broth, and finally, the browned chicken pieces on top.

10. Serving: Serve the maftoul with the remaining broth in deep plates. It is wonderfully accompanied by assorted pickles or a fresh salad. The flavors will blend perfectly, and each bite will be an explosion of tastes.

Practical Tips

- Ingredients: Choose a quality chicken, preferably free-range, for a more intense flavor. Maftoul can be found in international stores or online, but if you want to make it at home, make sure you have the right bulgur and wheat flour.

- Veggie Option: If you want a vegetarian version, you can replace the chicken with eggplants or zucchini and use fresh vegetables instead of meat.

- Storing the Maftoul: If you have leftover maftoul, store it in the refrigerator and reheat it with a little broth to restore moisture.

Nutritional Information

A serving of chicken maftoul contains approximately 500-600 calories, depending on the amount of oil and margarine used. It is a hearty meal, rich in proteins, fibers, and vitamins from vegetables, making it a nutritious and filling choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

- Can I use other types of meat? Yes, maftoul is also delicious with lamb or turkey.

- What can I do with leftover broth? The leftover broth can be used as a base for soups or sauces, adding extra flavor.

Personal Story

Preparing maftoul has always been a tradition in my family, and every meal around this dish was an opportunity to gather and enjoy moments spent together. I hope you will find joy in cooking this dish and share unforgettable moments with your loved ones.

Enjoy your meal!

 Ingredients: We need: -1 large chicken -1 kg of maftoul (dried or frozen) -1/2 kg of small potatoes -1/2 kg of small onions -1 large onion -5 large carrots -1/2 kg of small tomatoes -1 can of cooked chickpeas -2 tablespoons of cumin -salt to taste -freshly ground pepper to taste -3 tablespoons of olive oil -3 tablespoons of palm margarine -2 tablespoons of tomato paste -a special pot for maftoul; it consists of 2 stacked pots; the upper pot has a perforated base, so the maftoul is steamed.