Za’atar roast chicken with pistachio and herb pilaf

21 INGREDIENTS • 6 STEPS • 2HR

Za’atar roast chicken with pistachio and herb pilaf

Recipe
This is a labour of love, and makes a generous amount, but trust us – you’ll want the leftovers. Try it as an alternative to your usual Sunday roast.
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This is a labour of love, and makes a generous amount, but trust us – you’ll want the leftovers. Try it as an alternative to your usual Sunday roast.
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Marks & Spencer
Whatever you fancy cooking, we've got a recipe to inspire you. From speedy midweek meals to budget-friendly family dinners and weekend treats, let us help you cook and eat better, every day.

2HR

Total time

Ingredients

Servings
4
For the chicken
1
M&S Remarksable Value lemon
1.8 kg
M&S Oakham Gold whole chicken
legs untied
2 tbsp
za’atar
For the rice
250 g
M&S basmati rice
1 tub
(500 ml)
chicken stock
200 ml
Collection Cornish creamery whole milk
1
cinnamon stick
10
cardamom pods
bashed to split them open slightly
100 g
raw, shelled pistachios
100 g
coriander, leaves picked, roughly chopped
12 g
tarragon, leaves picked, roughly chopped
25 g
dill, finely chopped
1
M&S Remarksable Value lemon
juice only
200 g
M&S pomegranate rubies
1 bunch
M&S spring onion, sliced
1 clove
M&S Remarksable Value garlic, crushed
For the cucumber salad
2
cucumbers, finely sliced
1/2
red onion, finely diced
2 tbsp
Greek extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp
white wine vinegar
1 tsp
caster sugar

Nutrition per serving

VIEW ALL
Calories
1352kcal
Fat
66.1 g
Saturates
18.0 g
Sugars
16.2 g
Salt
756.0 mg
Love This Recipe?
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Za’atar roast chicken with pistachio and herb pilaf
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author_avatar
Marks & Spencer
Whatever you fancy cooking, we've got a recipe to inspire you. From speedy midweek meals to budget-friendly family dinners and weekend treats, let us help you cook and eat better, every day.

Author's notes

Serves 4-6.

Method

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step 1
Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan. Stuff the lemon (1) into the cavity of the chicken (1.8 kg), then mix 2 tbsp olive oil with the za’atar (2 tbsp) and some sea salt. Rub it all over the chicken, then place onto a baking tray. Roast in the oven for 10 minutes.
step 2
Meanwhile, tip the rice (250 g) into a mixing bowl, cover with cold water and stir it around gently with your hand – the water will turn white. Drain in a sieve and repeat 4-5 times, until the water stays almost clear when you stir the rice. Drain and tip into a large, ovenproof, heavy-based sauté pan or shallow casserole.
step 3
Add the chicken stock (1 tub), milk (200 ml), cinnamon stick (1) and cardamom (10) to the pan, then put the rice in the oven below the chicken. Cook both for 1 hour, until the chicken is cooked and the rice is crisp on top.
step 4
Remove both from the oven, transfer the chicken to a carving board and leave to rest, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Tip any juices from the chicken into the rice (be careful not to scrape the pan), then cover the rice and leave to rest.
step 5
Tip the pistachios (100 g) onto the same tin you roasted the chicken in, and toss with the remaining chicken juices. Roast for 10 minutes, then roughly chop. Toss cucumber (2), red onion (1/2), Greek extra virgin olive oil (2 tbsp), white wine vinegar (1 tbsp) and caster sugar (1 tsp) together and season well, then leave to sit for 10 minutes.
step 6
Remove the cardamom pods and cinnamon stick from the rice. Stir in the coriander (100 g), tarragon (12 g), dill (25 g), pistachios, lemon juice (1), pomegranate seeds (200 g), spring onions (1 bunch) and garlic (1 clove) and tip in any remaining juices from the chicken. Carve the chicken, then serve with the rice and the cucumber salad.
step 6 Remove the cardamom pods and cinnamon stick from the rice. Stir in the coriander (100 g), tarragon (12 g), dill (25 g), pistachios, lemon juice (1), pomegranate seeds (200 g), spring onions (1 bunch) and garlic (1 clove) and tip in any remaining juices from the chicken. Carve the chicken, then serve with the rice and the cucumber salad.

ONE LAST THING....

Due to our seasonal product ranges, ingredient availability may vary. We recommend searching for ingredients and checking the stock in your local store using our online catalogue or speaking with a colleague in-store for the most up-to-date information. Leave a comment below the recipe if you’d like to ask about an ingredient substitution and one of the team will get back to you to suggest a relevant swap, if applicable.

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