Djeij w batata or Chicken and potatoes
Djeij w batata or chicken and potatoes is one of the traditional Lebanese dishes and known with its amazing lemony and garlic flavor in addition to the olive oil which gives it a distinguished taste you can’t resist and it is unbelievably simple and easy to prepare.
This is one of my favorite dishes since I was a child, it takes me back to mom’s kitchen where I still remember its amazing aroma until today. Now It is also one of my children’s desirable plates.
When you say chicken and potatoes the only think comes into your mind is the distinctive lemony garlic taste in this dish. Because of this amazing combination, when you try this delicious dish, you will definitely crave for it again.
Prep. time: 20 mins
Cooking time: one hour and 15 mins
Serves: 6
INGREDIENTS:
2 chicken breasts and 6 drumsticks or 7 to 8 pieces of chicken you desire
6 medium potatoes
7 to 8 medium garlic gloves
One cup squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp allspice
3 tbsp of olive oil
PREPARATION: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Peel and crush the garlic gloves if available in a mortar, then mix well with the olive oil. In a large oven tray mix one tsp salt, allspice and half the garlic paste then season the chicken pieces with the oily mixture and arrange them in the tray. Bake for 30 mins, meanwhile peel the potatoes and slice into disks a bit more than a centimetre thick.
Add the potatoes after sprinkling a bit of salt on them and mixing them with the rest of the garlic paste, put them with the chicken. Bake them in the oven for around 20 mins or until done. Now pour the lemon juice, the rest of the salt then mix well and a cup of hot water or a bit more if needed for it to stay juicy and tender, then put it back in the oven and cook for another 10 to 15 mins or until golden. You can grill it for few more mins from the top if you like it dark golden.
Djeij w batata is very popular in the Lebanese cuisine and the success of this recipe is depending on the lemony garlic sauce which gives it this delicious taste. Once you try this recipe you want to do it again and again.
Enjoy !!