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    toum

    Chicken and Rice Soup

    February 21, 2019

    chicken, soup, lemon, rice, comfort, winter
    chicken, soup, lemon, rice, comfort, winter
    Comforting chicken, rice and lemon make this a perfect winter dish.

    For the longest time I can remember, soup has always been the essence of comfort food. Food to warm you up on a cold winter day or that special dish when you are sick. This Chicken and Rice soup with lemon is the soup you need this winter.

    Avgolemono

    I was inspired by the Greek soup, Avgolemono. My friend Bella from the blog, Ful-Filled, recently shared her recipe for this classic Greek soup that is a base of chicken, rice, lemon and eggs. My oldest daughter has an egg allergy, which means Avgolemono wouldn't work for her. I wanted to create a similar style soup that would satisfy the same warmth as traditional Avgolemono without the eggs.

    Simple Ingredients

    chicken, soup, lemon, rice, comfort, winter
    Warm chicken and rice soup for cold winter days.

    Traditional Avgolemono uses eggs to create its signature creamy, silky texture. I decided to replace the egg component with a light roux (flour and butter mixture) to create a bit of creaminess without being a cream based soup. Adding fresh lemon juice is a must but adding some sumac spice gave the soup its bright flavor. The sumac bush is native to the Middle East, it produces deep red berries which are dried and ground into a coarse powder used in many Middle Eastern dishes. Sumac has a lemony flavor, but is more balanced and less tart than lemon juice which is a nice addition in the soup.

    The simpleness of this dish is appealing but the flavors of the soup are so deep and comforting. A handful of simple ingredients turn into a dish that is more than perfect for a weeknight meal or a leisurely weekend brunch. Taking the extra time to make a homemade chicken stock is well worth it, especially when the broth is the main star of the show.

    .I think the beauty of developing recipes is taking inspiration from around the world and incorporating it into your own personal style. A traditional Greek soup inspired my own version with a Lebanese twist and flair. I hope this soup finds its way to your heart and home.

    As always, I love seeing your creations. Tag me on Instagram or Facebook with your dish!

    xoxo,
    Cosette

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    chicken, soup, lemon, rice, comfort, winter
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    Print Recipe
    Chicken and Rice Soup
    This soup is hearty enough for a full meal. Serves 8 people.
    chicken, soup, lemon, rice, comfort, winter
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine Lebanese
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes
    Servings
    Ingredients
    Chicken and Rice Soup
    • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter, divided
    • 1 large onion, diced
    • 2 tablespoon toum if you don't have toum, sub 6 cloves garlic, minced
    • 4 tablespoon flour
    • 12 cups chicken stock homemade is preferred*
    • ½ cup long grain rice, rinsed and drained I prefer jasmine rice
    • 2.5 cups shredded chicken
    • 2 teaspoon sumac
    • ½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
    • kosher salt to taste 2-3 teaspoon depending on saltiness of your broth
    • additional lemon for serving
    • fresh pepper
    Chicken Stock
    • 1 whole chicken
    • 1 whole cinnamon stick
    • 1 whole bay leaf
    • 1 whole lemon, cut in half
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine Lebanese
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes
    Servings
    Ingredients
    Chicken and Rice Soup
    • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter, divided
    • 1 large onion, diced
    • 2 tablespoon toum if you don't have toum, sub 6 cloves garlic, minced
    • 4 tablespoon flour
    • 12 cups chicken stock homemade is preferred*
    • ½ cup long grain rice, rinsed and drained I prefer jasmine rice
    • 2.5 cups shredded chicken
    • 2 teaspoon sumac
    • ½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
    • kosher salt to taste 2-3 teaspoon depending on saltiness of your broth
    • additional lemon for serving
    • fresh pepper
    Chicken Stock
    • 1 whole chicken
    • 1 whole cinnamon stick
    • 1 whole bay leaf
    • 1 whole lemon, cut in half
    chicken, soup, lemon, rice, comfort, winter
    Instructions
    Chicken and Rice Soup
    1. Prepare your rice by adding to a bowl, fill the bowl with water. Drain the water, fill again, continue doing this until the water is clear. Could be 3-4 times. Set aside.
    2. In a heavy bottomed large stock pot, add 2 tablespoons of butter and set to medium heat. Add in your chopped onions and cook for 3-5 minutes until they become translucent.
    3. If you are using chopped garlic instead of toum, add your garlic now (if you are using toum, wait).
    4. Add in 2 more tablespoons of butter and your 4 tablespoons of flour. Mix and stir until the flour is absorbed and cooked off. You can add in some of your stock to create a bit of a slurry while cooking this mixture.
    5. Add your chicken stock (see below for making your own), and rice. Let the mixture come to a boil on high heat then reduce to medium-low and cook for about 20 minutes until rice is tender. Stir occasionally to make sure rice doesn't stick, I leave my wooden spoon in the pot.
    6. Add in your chicken, toum if using and lemon once rice is tender. Season with salt and sumac. Sumac is a Middle Eastern spice that has a lemony flavor, if you don't have it, you can certainly add additional lemon to taste.
    7. Remove from heat, enjoy! Add additional lemon to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley and pink peppercorns.
    Chicken Stock
    1. Place a whole chicken in a large pot with cold water to cover completely.
    2. Add a cinnamon stick, bay leaf and lemon.
    3. Let the mixture come to a boil on high heat then reduce to a simmer and let go for 2-3 hours to get the best flavor.
    4. While the chicken is cooking, skim the fat off the top periodically.
    5. Once your stock is done, remove the chicken, pull the meat off the bones. Pour your stock through a fine mesh strainer to get any bits out. Store your stock in the fridge or freezer safe container for 3 months.
    Recipe Notes

    **If you are using homemade chicken stock, feel free to sub up to 4 cups of liquid with water. Homemade chicken stock is a lot more concentrated than store bought.

     

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    Lebanese Cauliflower Bites ~ Arnabeet

    November 14, 2018

    cauliflower, tahini, lebanese, appetizer

    cauliflower, tahini, lebanese, appetizer

    Tangy baked cauliflower with tangy lemon and tahini sauce.

     

    There are days I can't remember where I put my keys or what I ate for breakfast. Is it the 3 kids that made me lose my memory or just getting older? I'm not sure but I do know that there are some memories that are hard to forget. Like Sunday meals with the family growing up. Sundays were one of the only days my dad didn't open the shop. It was also the day where we had a big meal, often chicken and toum, grape leaves and side dishes of hummus and baba ganoush. Not too long ago, I remembered a dish my mom used to make, fried cauliflower. Fried bites of cauliflower with tangy, delicious tarator sauce. But let's be honest, I don't like frying much. So I thought recreating this well loved recipe by roasting the cauliflower, resulting in a delicious side dish or appetizer perfect for Sunday supper or an appetizer or side dish at your holiday gathering. 

     

    Baked not Fried

    Arnabeet Mekleh (translated to fried cauliflower) is a common Lebanese snack. Cauliflower florets dredged and fried into morsels of goodness, drizzled with the classic tarator sauce (tahini garlic sauce). Don't get me wrong, I LOVE these bites, they are everything you dream of. But I do NOT like frying, especially savory foods. I'll fry a donut any day of the week, but savory foods tend to evoke more of a smell when frying. And let's be honest, anything baked is 10x healthier for you. Do you prefer baked foods versus fried? Truth be told, my kids aren't cauliflower fans, until they tried these delicious bites. Roasted to perfection with a healthy coating of toum to really caramelize and glaze the bites, tangy lemon squeezed on top and garlicky tarator to dip. These simple ingredients truly transform the simple, humble cauliflower to the perfect snack. 

    cauliflower, tahini, lebanese, appetizer

    A squeeze of lemon on the hot charred cauliflower.

     

    cauliflower, tahini, lebanese, appetizer

    Classic taratore sauce (tahini, garlic and lemon) take these from ordinary to extraordinary.

     

    Health Benefits

    Cauliflower has been the CRAZE lately, cauliflower rice, cauliflower pizza (which I beg to disagree on). Truth is, cauliflower is a superfood that we all should be eating more of. It's an excellent source of fiber, high in Vitamin C and an anti-inflammatory. I always appreciate new ways of enjoying vegetables, with this dish being both vegan and gluten free, it's a winner for anyone looking for a delicious, nutritious dish. 

    As always, I hope you enjoy this dish and love seeing your creations. Tag me on Instagram @CosettesKitchen or post on my Facebook Page.

    xoxo,
    Cosette

    cauliflower, tahini, lebanese, appetizer

    Enjoy as an appetizer or side dish for any meal.

     

    cauliflower, tahini, lebanese, appetizer

    Lebanese Cauliflower Bites, Pin for later.

     

     


    Print Recipe


    Lebanese Cauliflower Bites ~ Arnabeet

    cauliflower, tahini, lebanese, appetizer

    Course Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine Lebanese
    Keyword fall, lebanese

    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes

    Servings


    Ingredients
    Baked Cauliflower
    • 1 head cauliflower
    • 1 tablespoon toum *can sub 1 tablespoon olive oil + 1.5 teaspoon garlic powder, using toum will result in better flavor)
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • lemon wedges

    Tarator (tahini sauce)
    • 1-2 large garlic cloves
    • ⅓ cup tahini
    • ¼ cup water
    • ½ cup lemon juice
    • salt to taste

    Course Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine Lebanese
    Keyword fall, lebanese

    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes

    Servings


    Ingredients
    Baked Cauliflower
    • 1 head cauliflower
    • 1 tablespoon toum *can sub 1 tablespoon olive oil + 1.5 teaspoon garlic powder, using toum will result in better flavor)
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • lemon wedges

    Tarator (tahini sauce)
    • 1-2 large garlic cloves
    • ⅓ cup tahini
    • ¼ cup water
    • ½ cup lemon juice
    • salt to taste

    cauliflower, tahini, lebanese, appetizer


    Instructions
    Baked Cauliflower
    1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

    2. Prepare cauliflower by cutting into florets.

    3. Spread florets on baking sheet and coat with toum and salt, be sure each floret is coated.

    4. Bake for 20-25 minutes tossing halfway to ensure all pieces are browning evenly.

    5. Once browned and caramelized, remove from oven and squeeze liberally with lemon.

    6. Plate and enjoy with taratore sauce.

    Tarator Sauce
    1. With mortar and pestle smash garlic, add your tahini, water, lemon and salt. Adjust lemon and salt to your liking. Add additional water or lemon juice to thin if too thick.


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    My name is Cosette Posko and I reside in Portland, Oregon with my family of five. Originally from Pennsylvania, I moved to the great Pacific Northwest about 15 years ago and have been here ever since.

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