Serious Eats' Halal Cart-Style Chicken And Rice With White Sauce

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Serious Eats' Halal Cart-Style Chicken and Rice With White Sauce 

The chicken is marinated with herbs, lemon, and spices; the rice golden; the sauce, as white and creamy as ever.

By Caroline Russock Caroline Russock Caroline Russock is a writer who splits her time between Philadelphia and the Caribbean covering food, travel, leisure, lifestyle, and culture.  Her writing is featured in PhillyVoice, Eater, Eater Philly, Serious Eats, and The Tasting Table.  Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process and J. Kenji López-Alt J. Kenji López-Alt Culinary Consultant Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science. Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process Updated September 21, 2025 (70) Save WRITE A REVIEW Print Jump to recipe

Why It Works

• Using a marinade blend of lemon juice, oregano, and coriander not only infuses the chicken with a vibrant, aromatic flavor but also tenderizes it by breaking down protein structures.
• Using chicken thighs is ideal because they are less prone to drying out like chicken breast, yielding tender and juicy results.
• Cooking the chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet creates Maillard reactions, which develop deep, savory flavors and a perfectly browned crust.
• Toasting the rice with turmeric and cumin before simmering ensures a nutty flavor with a visually appealing golden hue, enhancing both taste and presentation.

Manhattan is home to many smells, but perhaps the most delicious is the chicken-y, savory scent that emanates from from the city's countless halal carts. Serving lunch to late-night, these carts dish up a container full of chicken rice that tastes like nothing else, crave-worthy and totally singular. To taste this particular chicken and rice you can get yourself to Midtown or try this home version by Kenji, a spot-on rendition of the street food classic. Marinated in oregano, lemon, and coriander, chicken thighs are browned, chopped into chunks and served over a pile turmeric-yellow rice. Of course, it wouldn't be halal-cart style without the ubiquitous (and none too fancy) salad of iceberg and tomatoes, and that mysterious sweet-sour-tangy white sauce that just has to be ladled all over the chicken and rice for true street-style authenticity.

Adapted from Serious Eats: A Comprehensive Guide to Making and Eating Delicious Food Wherever You Are by Ed Levine and The Serious Eats Team. Copyright © 2011. Published by Clarkson Potter. Available wherever books are sold. All Rights Reserved.

December 2011

The headnote was written by Caroline Russock; recipe by J. Kenji López-Alt

Recipe Details

Serious Eats' Halal Cart-Style Chicken and Rice With White Sauce 

Prep 15 mins Cook 40 mins Active 45 mins Marinating and Cooling Time 80 mins Total 2 hrs 15 mins Serves 4 servings Save Print Keep Screen Awake

For the chicken:

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed

• 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped (about 1 1/2 tablespoons)

• 1/4 cup light olive oil

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat (6 to 8 thighs)

• 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil

For the rice:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1 1/2 cups long-grain or Basmati rice

• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the sauce:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 2 tablespoons white vinegar

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

To serve:

• 1 head iceberg lettuce, shredded

• 1 large tomato, cut into wedges

• Fluffy pocketless pita bread, brushed in butter, lightly toasted, and cut into 1 × 3-inch strips

• Harissa-style hot sauce, for serving

1. For the chicken: Combine the lemon juice, oregano, coriander, garlic, and olive oil in a blender. Blend until smooth. Season the marinade to taste with kosher salt and black pepper. Place the chicken in a 1-gallon zipper-lock bag and add half of the marinade (reserve the remaining marinade in the refrigerator). Turn the chicken to coat, seal the bag, and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours, turning occasionally to redistribute the marinade (see Note).

2. Remove the chicken from the bag and pat it dry with paper towels. Season with kosher salt and pepper, going heavy on the pepper. Heat the oil in a 12-inch heavy-bottomed cast iron or stainless-steel skillet over medium-high heat until it is lightly smoking. Add the chicken pieces and cook without disturbing until they are lightly browned on the first side, about 4 minutes. Using tongs, flip the chicken. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the center of each thigh registers 165°F. on an instant-read thermometer, about 6 minutes longer. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

3. Using a chef’s knife, roughly chop the chicken into 1/2- to 1/4-inch chunks. Transfer to a medium bowl, add the remaining marinade, cover loosely with plastic, and refrigerate while you cook the rice and prepare the sauce.

4. For the rice: Melt the butter over medium heat in a large Dutch oven. Add the turmeric and cumin and cook until fragrant but not browned, about 1 minute. Add the rice and stir to coat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the rice is lightly toasted, about 4 minutes. Add the chicken broth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Raise the heat to high and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 15 minutes without disturbing. Remove from the heat and allow to rest until the water is completely absorbed and the rice is tender, about 15 minutes.

5. For the sauce: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, yogurt, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, parsley, and 2 teaspoons black pepper. Whisk to combine. Season to taste with salt.

6. To serve: Return the entire contents of the chicken bowl (chicken, marinade, and all juices) to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. To serve, divide the rice, lettuce, tomato, and toasted pita bread evenly among four to six plates. Pile the chicken on top of the rice. Top with the white sauce and hot sauce. Serve immediately, passing extra sauce at the table.

Special Equipment

Blender, 12-inch cast iron skillet or stainless steel skillet

Notes

Do not marinate the chicken longer than 4 hours or it’ll get a mushy texture. If you must delay cooking the chicken for any reason, remove it from the marinade, pat it dry with paper towels, and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Read More

• Maqlubeh (Palestinian "Upside Down" Meat, Vegetables, and Rice) Recipe
• Traditional Toum (Lebanese Garlic Sauce) Recipe
• Hainanese Chicken Rice Set Recipe
• Greek-Style Rice Pilaf With Chicken Thighs Recipe
• Smoky and Spicy Yogurt Marinated Chicken Kebabs Recipe

• Chicken Thighs
• Middle Eastern
• White Rice
• Rice & Grains

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
964	Calories
53g	Fat
69g	Carbs
55g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label ×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	964
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 53g	68%
Saturated Fat 13g	63%
Cholesterol 239mg	80%
Sodium 1711mg	74%
Total Carbohydrate 69g	25%
Dietary Fiber 5g	18%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 55g
Vitamin C 20mg	102%
Calcium 157mg	12%
Iron 5mg	30%
Potassium 1048mg	22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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