This Lemon Garlic Hen is a copycat of a signature dish at Al Aseel, a preferred Lebanese restaurant in Sydney. Tender marinated hen smothered in a particular lemon garlic sauce, it’s outrageously good and making it at dwelling is simple!
Al Aseel’s Lemon Garlic Hen
Al Aseel proudly declares itself to be “Sydney’s finest Lebanese restaurant” – a daring declare, however who am I to argue? I haven’t personally tried each Lebanese spot in Sydney (although that seems like a problem I’d fortunately settle for!).
What I do know is that their signature Lemon Garlic Hen has a little bit of a cult following, and when a reader requested me to recreate it, I used to be glad to oblige.
Plus, it turned out to be surprisingly simple to recreate. A pleasant reprieve after the 48 variations it took to create final weeks’ Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Yogurt marinade and yogurt sauce
The important thing ingredient on this Al Aseel copycat recipe is yogurt. It’s used within the garlicky marinade (yogurt is a wonderful flavour service, as Greek Gyros followers can attest) , it makes the flavour keep on with the hen because it sears, and it’s the bottom of the creamy garlic lemon sauce that smothers the hen.
By the best way, the Lemon Garlic Yogurt Sauce is served heat, which could sound a bit uncommon (heat yogurt??), however please belief. I assumed the identical the primary time I attempted this dish at Al Aseel, and glad to seek out I used to be fully incorrect – it’s fabulous!
Components in Lebanese Lemon Garlic Hen
Right here’s what it’s essential make this.
For the marinade
I don’t know if Al Aseel makes use of a yogurt marinade, however it’s a superb flavour service and tenderiser. The hen is so juicy inside, you may be amazed. (Juicier than on the restaurant).
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Hen tenderloin – fast and straightforward to chop into the appropriate form in order that they sit flat on the pan, and the completed dish appears to be like like Al Aseel’s. It’s additionally extra tender than hen breast, although you should use breast in a pinch (the marinade does wonders with tenderising). Thighs additionally work, although they aren’t as uniform in form as tenderloin or breast.
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Yogurt – Greek or plain yogurt, unsweetened, is a wonderful flavour service for marinades to get the garlic infused all through each bit. It additionally creates a pleasant coating so the tasty flavours sticks to the floor of the hen.
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Lemon – The acid within the marinade that helps tenderise, in addition to including tangy lemon flavour.
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Olive oil – So as to add a little bit of richness and dilute the acidity of the lemon a bit so it doesn’t “cook dinner” the hen.
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Salt and pepper – for seasoning the hen.
The lemon garlic sauce
Make this whilst you’ve bought all the things out for the marinade as a result of it makes use of the identical substances! Actually, the flavour within the sauce wants time to meld so must be made not less than 1 hour forward.
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Yogurt – Utilizing full fats is important right here. Low fats has a “watery” mouthfeel to it.
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Tahini – I don’t assume Al Aseel makes use of tahini, I feel they combine yogurt with toum which is a Lebanese garlic dip made with numerous oil. A small quantity of tahini as a substitute supplies mouthfeel richness with out overtaking the sauce with sesame flavour.
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Olive oil – To offer the sauce a little bit of richness.
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Garlic – Unusually, I’m going to ask you to measured the garlic utilizing teaspoons as a result of uncooked garlic in a sauce like this may be fairly harsh. I take advantage of 3/4 teaspoons of finely grated or garlic minced utilizing a garlic press. If utilizing a knife, finely chop then smear the garlic on the board utilizing the facet of the knife to make a paste, then measure.
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Water – To skinny the sauce barely, to make it drizzle-able (is {that a} phrase?).
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Salt and pepper – For seasoning.
Salt notice: the recipe requires 1 teaspoon of salt in every the marinade and sauce. I began with much less however felt it was beneath salted for each, then stored dialling it up and landed on a teaspoon for every. It’s not salty, I promise.
Find out how to make Lebanese Lemon Garlic Hen
Marinating time apart, it’s truly very fast as a result of there’s not that many substances!
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Marinade hen for 12 to 24 hours. Past 24 hours, there’s diminishing returns (ie further time doesn’t make it extra tender or extra flavourful) so whereas okay to maintain it for two days within the fridge, past that I’d freeze it as a substitute.
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Prepare dinner – Drain off the surplus marinade out of the bowl then cook dinner the hen items for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on either side till golden. I do it in 2 batches as a result of if you happen to muddle the pan, the hen will go watery and braise as a substitute of sear. We would like the golden color!
PS The recipe requires the items to be lower pretty giant as a result of each bit is turned one by one. It’s a ache individually turning a great deal of tiny items!
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Relaxation – Switch the cooked hen onto a plate and after the second batch is cooked, let it relaxation for two minutes. This resting time permits the juices to settle again into the hen fibres so that you get actually juicy hen flesh inside. You can be stunned. I used to be!
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Lemon garlic sauce – That is as simple as mixing the substances collectively, setting apart for not less than an hour to let the garlic flavour meld, then heating the sauce gently solely to heat within the microwave.
Nevertheless, as a result of the substances within the sauce are the identical because the hen marinade, it’s fairly useful to only combine it up similtaneously the marinade then simply refrigerate it till required.
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Plating up – Al Aseel model! Pour half the yogurt sauce right into a shallow bowl or a plate. Then switch the hen onto the sauce utilizing a spatula or spoon – don’t pour it them off the plate because the resting juices on the plate tarnish your glowing white sauce.
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Garnish – High with remaining yogurt sauce, drizzle with olive oil and end with a pinch of parsley. Then serve!
Find out how to serve Al Aseel’s Lebanese Lemon Garlic Hen
For me, Lebanese bread for sauce mopping is a should, plus then you definately even have the choice to make wraps full of the tasty hen items smothered within the lemon garlic sauce. Rice can be a superb possibility. Basmati can be my choose although any plain rice would work (there’s definitely loads of sauce for rice soaking).
Should you’re after one thing extra adventurous on the rice entrance, attempt Mejadra (Center Japanese spiced lentil rice), Garlic rice or Rice Pilaf with Nuts and Dried Fruit.
Add a perky contemporary salad on the facet (attempt Lebanese Fattoush or this Ottolenghi one, typically I skip the chickpeas), and a superb Lebanese feast at dwelling is completely inside attain even on a midweek! And if there are any die-hard Al Aseel followers studying this, I’d like to understand how you assume my model stacks up. – Nagi x
PS I omitted dessert – as a result of I don’t have any strictly conventional Lebanese dessert recipes – although Baklava, Persian Love Cake or Pistachio Cake can be my picks if I had been seeking to impress.
Watch learn how to make it
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Lebanese Lemon Garlic Hen – Al Aseel copycat
Prep: 15 minutes
Prepare dinner: 10 minutes
Complete: 25 minutes
Primary
lebanese
Servings3 – 4 folks
Faucet or hover to scale
Components
Lemon garlic yogurt sauce:
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Directions
ABBREVIATED RECIPE:
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Marinade hen 12 – 24 hrs. Prepare dinner in 2 batches. Whisk sauce, relaxation 1 hr, heat simply earlier than serving. Smother hen, serve!
FULL RECIPE:
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Marinade – Combine the marinade substances in a bowl. Add the hen, toss to coat then refrigerate to marinate for 12 – 24 hours (Word 2).
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Sauce – Put the sauce substances in a microwaveable bowl and whisk to mix. Put aside for 1 hour + (garlic flavour melds). Simply earlier than serving, microwave for 40 seconds to heat (however not sizzling) then give it a superb whisk. Style and add extra lemon for tangier, or extra water to loosen (some yogurts are thicker than others).
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Cooking – Drain off extra marinade from the hen. Warmth 1 tbsp oil in a big non stick pan over excessive warmth. Place half the hen in and cook dinner for 1 1/2 – 2 minutes on either side till golden. Take away onto a plate.
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Repeat – Scrape out / rapidly wipe unfastened black bits out of the pan. Reheat remaining oil and cook dinner remaining hen. Relaxation for two minutes.
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Serving – Unfold half the sauce in a shallow bowl. Use a spatula to switch the hen onto the yogurt. Spoon over remaining sauce, end with a graceful of olive oil and sprinkle of parsley. Serve!
Recipe Notes:
- Breast – lower the small pointy finish off (that may be one piece) then slice the remaining lengthways into 1.5cm / 0.6″ thick slices, then into 4cm/1.5″ squares.
- Boneless thighs additionally work.
2. Marinating time – as much as 48 hrs is okay however past 24 hrs doesn’t add something. Absolute minimal is 3 hrs although clearly not fairly as tender, it nonetheless has good flavour on the floor.
3. Tahini – Don’t assume Al Aseel makes use of tahini, I feel they combine yogurt with toum which is a Lebanese garlic dip made with numerous oil. A small quantity of tahini as a substitute supplies mouthfeel richness with out overwhelming sesame flavour.
Leftovers will maintain 3 days within the fridge.
Making forward – Hen may be combined in marinade and put in freezer right away, it can marinade whereas thawing in a single day. Sauce may be combined the day earlier than, refrigerate then heat earlier than serving.
Diet per serving, assuming 4 servings and all of the sauce is consumed.
Diet Info:
Energy: 285cal (14%)Carbohydrates: 3g (1%)Protein: 28g (56%)Fats: 18g (28%)Saturated Fats: 3g (19%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 3gMonounsaturated Fats: 11gTrans Fats: 0.01gLdl cholesterol: 80mg (27%)Sodium: 1022mg (44%)Potassium: 518mg (15%)Fiber: 0.3g (1%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 44IU (1%)Vitamin C: 9mg (11%)Calcium: 26mg (3%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
Lifetime of Dozer
His present favorite toy:
Additionally a bit unhappy to report that he’s injured his hip. Undecided how, however it’s taking longer to get well than hoped. It’s been a few weeks now. I’m taking him to see Neil Barnsley, the magic canine physician, frequently and I’ve began him on a particular Joint Assist complement reasonably than giving him 6 separate tablets and oils.
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Fingers crossed he recovers quickly and is again on the seashore along with his mates! I’ve religion. Dozer is extra resilient than I give him credit score for. 🥰