This straightforward halal cart-style hen over rice combines juicy, spice-rubbed hen with fluffy yellow rice, drizzled with the enduring, creamy white sauce! I’ll present you find out how to make it 100% from scratch.
You may also like my tandoori hen rice bowls and this filling Mediterranean bowl recipe.
Should you’ve ever caught a whiff of smoky, scorching hen on a avenue nook in NYC, you already KNOW right now’s recipe! We’re making juicy, seasoned halal cart hen over rice, full with the well-known creamy white sauce. I’ve saved this do-it-yourself model straightforward, however it nonetheless has all of the genuine avenue cart flavors I keep in mind! This recipe may be meal-prepped, and making it from scratch means I can customise it in additional methods than one.
Selfmade Hen Over Rice That’s Even Higher Than Road Meals
- Genuine flavors. Halal carts in New York are a late-night favourite. I needed to maintain these avenue meals flavors in a do-it-yourself model that anybody could make of their kitchen.
- Minimal hands-on time. With simply quarter-hour of prep, I feel I did fairly effectively right here! Many of the magic occurs in your oven. These avenue food-style bowls are additionally an effective way to make use of up leftover hen and rice.
- Excellent for meal prepping. The very best half about making this at house is that I used to be capable of scale up the recipe. Prepare dinner as soon as, and revel in scrumptious hen over rice all week lengthy.
What Is Halal Cart Hen?
Halal cart hen is iconic New York Metropolis avenue meals made with spiced grilled hen over rice with salad and white sauce. It’s so fashionable, you’ll discover this hen dish throughout the US, too (The Halal Guys is a sequence that began as meals carts). I don’t need to brag, however I feel this do-it-yourself hen over rice would possibly simply rival any restaurant or avenue cart!
Substances You’ll Want
A typical halal cart platter consists of hen shawarma served over yellow rice with salad or contemporary greens, resembling lettuce and tomatoes, on the facet. The crowning glory is a drizzle of bitter cream sauce. It seems, it’s straightforward to recreate it at house.
I’ve included notes on the components for every element beneath. Scroll to the printable recipe card for the complete particulars, adopted by a step-by-step overview with pictures.
For the Hen
- Hen – I really like the juiciness and taste of boneless hen thighs with the pores and skin nonetheless on. You may make this recipe with hen breasts or bone-in hen, too. Take into account that the cooking occasions will range.
- Olive Oil – Helps the hen crisp up and provides the spice rub one thing to stick to. You possibly can swap olive oil for any cooking oil you favor.
- Garlic – Freshly minced, or you possibly can substitute ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder per contemporary clove.
- Spices – I make my shawarma-inspired hen spice rub with dried oregano, coriander, cumin, turmeric, paprika, salt, and freshly floor black pepper.
For the Rice
- Butter – Salted or unsalted. Think about lowering the quantity of added salt within the recipe for those who’re utilizing salted butter.
- White Rice – Select a long-grain rice, like jasmine rice or basmati. You may additionally take a shortcut with quick-cooking prompt rice.
- Spices – Turmeric, cumin, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder (you possibly can change garlic powder with onion and vice versa).
- Broth – Provides extra taste to the rice whereas it cooks. You should use vegetable or hen broth, whichever you favor. I prefer to prepare dinner with low-sodium broth.
White Sauce Substances
- Bitter Cream – You may substitute Greek or plain yogurt, or tahini if wanted.
- Lemon Juice – Recent or bottled is okay, since we’re solely utilizing a small quantity.
- Sugar – I exploit granulated sugar, however you possibly can use one other sweetener, like honey, for those who’d like.
- Za’atar – Za’atar is an fragrant Center Japanese herb mix that features thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds. You’ll discover it in most grocery shops and spice aisles. I add a bit of garlic powder in with my za’atar, however that’s optionally available.
- Milk – You’ll want simply sufficient to skinny out the sauce so it’s straightforward to drizzle. Any kind of dairy or plant-based milk works right here.
Recipe Ideas
- Use hen thighs when you possibly can. Hen thighs keep juicier than hen breasts, they usually’re more durable to overcook. Make sure that to make use of halal-certified hen as wanted.
- Chill the seasoned hen within the fridge. Spice your hen at the very least 1 hour earlier than cooking and let it relaxation within the fridge. Identical to marinating, that is key to constructing taste.
- Examine that the hen is cooked. Whether or not you’re utilizing thighs, breasts, or in any other case, hen is finished when the inner temperature reads 165ºF on an instant-read meat thermometer.
- Use leftover rice. When you’ve got leftover cooked white rice within the fridge, merely stir within the butter, spices, and a splash of broth whereas it reheats. Bam! Halal cart rice that’s able to go.
Straightforward Meals Cart Toppings
High your hen over rice with any of the next:
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomato
- Peeled and diced cucumber
- Pickled jalapeños or greens
Serving Strategies
When you’ve assembled your avenue cart hen and rice bowls, tuck items of lavash bread or naan bread on the facet, and revel in! This cottage cheese flatbread additionally makes an excellent low-carb possibility. This hen over rice is a meal in a single, or you possibly can serve it with Mediterranean-inspired appetizers, like stuffed grape leaves.
Methods to Customise Your Hen Over Rice
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Prepare dinner the Hen
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Add the spice rub. In a medium bowl, mix the hen thighs, olive oil, garlic, and all of the spices. Toss to coat the hen on all sides with the oil and spices. Cowl with plastic wrap and chill within the fridge for 1 hour.
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Oven technique. Preheat your oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper. Place the hen thighs on the baking sheet and bake for 35-45 minutes or till the hen registers at 165ºF on an instant-read thermometer.
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Air fryer technique. You may additionally prepare dinner the hen thighs within the air fryer. Begin by preheating the air fryer to 390ºF. Place the hen thighs within the basket (no wire rack), pores and skin facet down. Prepare dinner for 10 minutes, then flip and prepare dinner it pores and skin facet up for 10-12 minutes extra. The hen is finished when the pores and skin is crispy and the hen registers at 165ºF with an instant-read thermometer.
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Cool and slice. Let the hen cool for five minutes, then slice it into strips or bite-sized items.
Make the Rice
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When to make it. Do that whereas the hen is cooking.
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Stovetop technique. Soften the butter in a medium pot over medium-low warmth. Stir within the rice to coat it with the butter. Add all of the remaining rice components, stir effectively. Deliver to a simmer, then cowl and prepare dinner for 15-20 minutes. The rice is finished when it is fluffy. Take away from the warmth and fluff the rice with a fork.
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Instantaneous pot technique. Flip the Instantaneous Pot on to sauté and soften the butter. Flip off the Instantaneous Pot and stir within the rice. Add all of the remaining rice components to your Instantaneous Pot. Give it a very good stir, then seal the lid and press the “rice” button.
Make the Bitter Cream Drizzle
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When to make it. Do that when the hen and rice are virtually performed.
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Combine. In a medium bowl, mix the bitter cream sauce components. Stir effectively.
To Serve
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Layer all the things in a bowl and add toppings. Spoon the rice into particular person bowls and prime with the sliced hen. Add shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and diced cucumbers to the bowl. End with a beneficiant drizzle of the bitter cream sauce. Tuck some items of pita or naan bread into the facet of the bowl and serve.
Energy: 667kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 25g | Fats: 36g | Saturated Fats: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 5g | Monounsaturated Fats: 16g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 1321mg | Potassium: 562mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 970IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 3mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could range in response to the components and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
Learn how to Make Halal Cart Hen Over Rice
Should you’re utilizing skin-on hen thighs, contemplate trimming away any extra pores and skin to maintain issues neat. Then, we’ll season the hen and prepare dinner it following the instructions for my oven-baked hen thighs. It will get the pores and skin good and crispy!
First, Prepare dinner the Hen
- Season the hen. Mix the hen thighs with the olive oil and spices, and toss to coat. I like to make use of my fingers to rub the seasoning in. Cowl and refrigerate the hen for 1 hour.
- Bake the hen. Afterward, bake the hen on a lined baking sheet at 400ºF for 35-45 minutes.
- Cool. Cool the hen for five minutes, then you possibly can slice the hen into strips, chunks, or depart it entire for serving.
Use the Air Fryer
Alternatively, you possibly can prepare dinner the hen utilizing my air fryer hen thighs technique. Preheat the air fryer to 390ºF, and add the hen to the ungreased basket, pores and skin facet down. Prepare dinner for 10 minutes, flip, and prepare dinner for an additional 10-12 minutes.
In the meantime, Make the Rice
- Instantaneous Pot. Soften butter on sauté mode, then swap off the Instantaneous Pot and stir within the rice and the remaining components. Seal, then prepare dinner utilizing the “rice” setting.
- Stovetop. Or make it on the stovetop and soften the butter in a saucepan, stir within the rice and remaining components over medium-low warmth. Deliver the pot to a simmer, cowl, and prepare dinner for 15-20 minutes. Then, take the rice off the warmth and fluff it with a fork.
Assemble and Serve
- Make the bitter cream sauce. When the hen and rice are almost performed cooking, whisk the white sauce components collectively in a bowl.
- Layer all the things in a bowl. Add your rice to bowls, prime with the hen, then add your lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, or any toppings you’d like. Lastly, give your hen over rice a beneficiant drizzle of the bitter cream sauce and dig in!
Meal Prep and Storage Directions
- Refrigerate. Retailer your cooked hen, rice, and bitter cream sauce in separate hermetic containers within the fridge.
- Meal prep your hen and rice. Alternatively, assemble the hen over rice in meal prep containers and preserve them within the fridge for simple, to-go lunches all through the week.
- Reheat. Heat the leftovers within the microwave or the oven till the hen and rice are sizzling all through.