Djaj Bil-Bahar Il-Asfar, or Iraqi yellow spice-rubbed chicken, is a fragrant grilled chicken that is eaten as street food in Iraq and was the meal that helped Felicia Campbell, a US soldier stationed in Iraq in 2003, feel at home in the middle of a war. She said this: “I didn't look up at the owner of the brown hands that passed me a Styrofoam plate lined with thick, soft, warm flatbread topped with half a chicken. I was thankful that the food looked straightforward and safe, delicious even. The chicken skin was crispy, charred-brown, and shiny with fat.”
We will serve this dish with Timman Bagilla and cucumber yogurt. Timman Bagilla is rice with Fava beans and dill, and it is heavily influenced by Persian cuisine.
Yogurt dip is optional if you have a dairy allergy.
Ingredients: Chicken thighs, cumin, coriander, black pepper, chile arbol, allspice, rose petals, curry powder, cinnamon, sumac, ginger, nutmeg, fenugreek, garlic, olive oil.
Yogurt Dip: Greek yogurt, garlic, sumac, olive oil, salt
Timman Bagilla: Basmati Rice, Dill, Cilantro, Fava Beans, Onion, salt, pepper, olive oil.