Lebanese Chicken with Charred Lemon Cauliflower.
Bringing you all some springtime vibes with this Lebanese Chicken with Charred Lemon Cauliflower. Grilled (or roasted) Lebanese style chicken, served with a charred lemony cauliflower and herb salad, and the most deliciously addicting garlic yogurt sauce. It doesn’t get more delicious than this grilled chicken…simple, healthy, extra colorful, super flavorful, and so delicious. A fun switch-up from the usual chicken dinner.
And just like that, I’ve really begun to embrace the springtime recipes. We’ve been in quarantine “lockdown” mode for so long now that I’m craving anything fresh and anything different. Yes, I love my pasta and all my cheesy comfort food recipes, but some nights need to be different. And let’s be real, it might not feel like spring here, but we’re in the last week of April. I sure hope it feels more like spring where you are, because, you guys, it’s definitely spring!
So springtime eats it is. This means herbs (fresh or dried) on just about everything, and strawberries for dessert.
Enter this chicken. It’s my favorite recipe of the week. Inspired by Lebanese Shish Tawook (grilled chicken skewers) and my eldest brother’s love for Persian cuisine. I view this recipe as street food, but a bit healthier, and much more colorful too.
Honestly, we can’t get enough of this recipe. I actually served this dish two nights in a row. My brother Creighton, who has been quarantined here with us in Colorado, is obsessed. He said it beats out his favorite Cleveland Lebanese “street food” spots. If you know Creighton, then you know this means the recipe is GOOD. And since I had all the ingredients in the fridge…and we’re avoiding the grocery stores…I figured why not. I love making that kid happy!
The details…start with the chicken!
I want to say that this Lebanese chicken with charred lemon cauliflower. isn’t as hands-off as some of my other recipes, but the extra prep time is worth it. And please do know, this recipe is still so simple. It comes together in under an hour using a good mix of pantry, fridge, and freezer staples.
Start with the chicken. I marinate the chicken in quite possibly one of my favorite marinades. It’s a combination of olive oil, tomato paste, smoked paprika, plenty of garlic, and lots of lemon (always so much lemon). If you’re familiar with Lebanese style chicken, this is the more traditional marinade for Lebanese Shish Tawook, grilled chicken skewers. It’s simple yet delicious. The tomato paste, garlic, and lemon are key.
Now, when I say marinate, I really just mean toss the chicken in this mix and let it sit while you get everything else for the bowls together. I’m not sure about you guys, but I can never plan ahead enough to cook a recipe requiring a long marinating time.
It almost never happens…
So, I do a quick marinade. It works.
Moving onto the cauliflower.
While the chicken “marinates” roast the cauliflower. Find yourself a good sheet pan and toss the cauliflower with some olive oil, lemons, and salt. Roast this mix at a high heat to char the cauliflower, but yet still leave it with a bit of a bite.
As the cauliflower roasts, make the herb sauce for the cauliflower. This sauce is extra special. Its main two ingredients are the roasted lemon slices and herbs. You use not only the lemon juice, but the lemon rind as well. Yes, I’m about to tell you to chop up the WHOLE lemon, rind and all, and add it to your herb sauce. I know this seems odd, but roasting the lemon removes any bitterness and makes them extra sweet and tangy. Once the lemon is finely chopped and stirred together with the olive oil and herbs it becomes vibrant and incredible! The perfect marriage of flavors to coat the cauliflower.
For the herbs, I love to use a mix of tender herbs such as parsley, cilantro, and dill. But you can use a mix of whatever you have on hand, fresh or dried.
Once the cauliflower comes out of the oven, toss it with the sauce, then add the cucumbers and toasted pumpkin seeds. And that’s the cauliflower. It’s basically a charred lemon cauliflower and herb salad, and it’s delicious.
Finish it up and put it all together.
And then finally, the garlic sauce. It’s simple, plain Greek yogurt, lots of lemon, grated garlic, and salt.
Once the cauliflower is tossed together and the garlic sauce is made, grill or roast the chicken and put it all together. I served the cauliflower and chicken with fresh naan and homemade fries. I used homemade naan, but feel free to use your favorite store-bought pita or flatbread.
I then added a very generous amount of that garlic sauce, fresh herbs, and a few extra slices of lemons to top the dish off.
Super pretty, on the (very) healthy side, and so very delicious.
Substitutions, suggestions, and ideas.
You can use all pantry staples or a mix of pantry staples and fresh ingredients. It’s all about using what you’ve got on hand. So if fresh herbs aren’t available, use dried…or maybe think about ordering some. I keep mentioning these guys (and this is not sponsored), but here is my go-to source for herbs right now. I am obsessed.
No yogurt? Try sour cream or mayo.
And if you don’t have cauliflower? Try broccoli, carrots, or beets. Any heartier vegetable that roasts up nicely will work well.
The ingredients that you need most…chicken, olive oil, lemons, garlic, spices, and dried herbs. If you’ve got these you can make your version of this recipe. And yes, it’s going to be great.
Sooo, how about a Lebanese street food style inspired dinner tonight? Promise it is going to be good!
Lastly, if you make this Lebanese chicken with charred lemon cauliflower, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Lebanese Chicken with Charred Lemon Cauliflower.
Grilled Lebanese (or roasted) style chicken, served with charred lemony cauliflower and herb salad, cucumbers, and the most deliciously addicting garlicky yogurt sauce.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 6 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- zest and juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size chunks
Cauliflower and Garlic Yogurt
- 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons + 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 lemons, 1 quartered, 1 juiced
- 1 cup fresh parsley, cilantro, and or dill, chopped (I use a mix)
- 1/2 cup green olives, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 Persian cucumbers, chopped
- 1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds and/or sunflower seeds
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1-2 cloves garlic, grated
Instructions
-
1. In a bowl, combine the olive oil, tomato paste, paprika, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, crushed red pepper, and a large pinch of salt. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Marinate for 15 minutes or up to overnight in the fridge.
2. Meanwhile, make the cauliflower. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. On a rimmed baking sheet, combine the cauliflower, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Arrange the lemons around the cauliflower. Transfer to the oven and roast for 10-15 minutes, or until tender and charred.
3. Remove the charred lemon slices from the baking sheet. Finely chop the lemons, rind and all, discarding any of the seeds. Add half of the chopped lemon to a salad bowl. Add the parsley/cilantro, olives, red wine vinegar, and remaining 1/3 cup olive oil. Season with salt and crushed red pepper flakes. Add the cauliflower, cucumbers, and seeds, and toss well.
4. To make the yogurt, combine the yogurt, grated garlic, and 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice. Season with salt. Taste, adding more of the lemon as desired.
5. Set your grill, grill pan, or skillet to medium-high heat. Take skewers and thread the chicken pieces on. Grill the skewers until lightly charred and cooked through, turning them occasionally throughout cooking, about 10 to 12 minutes total. Alternately, you can roast the chicken at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes.
6. To serve, spread the yogurt sauce onto plates. Add the cauliflower salad and chicken. Top with fresh herbs and serve with naan. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Herbs: if fresh herbs are not available, use 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 1 tablespoon dried coriander, and 1 tablespoon dried dill.
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Great recipe. Looking to make this one very soon.
Thank you so much Joyce! xTieghan
You don’t mention in step one, adding the chicken. I’m assuming the marinate over night is the meat.. Going to do this one soon…all in my pantry/fridge.
Hi Deby! It is in step one, here is the directions : Add the chicken and toss to coat. Marinate for 15 minutes or up to overnight in the fridge. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This sounds great and I really love the addition of lemon and yogurt to the cauliflower!
Thank you Melissa! xTieghan
Just texted my neighbor for lemons from her tree. The rest of the ingredients are going into my next grocery pick up order! So excited to try this.
Ooo fresh lemons are the best!! Thank you Amy! xTieghan
Oh my god I can’t wait to try this!! Looks so fresh and yummy!
I hope you love this! Thank you Madison! xTieghan
Made the chicken part of this recipe tonight ~ didn’t have any cauliflower on hand. Marinaded the chicken for about 7 hours & used our air fryer: 350 for 15 minutes ~ was perfect! Served with white rice & cherry tomatoes & sliced cukes ~ really yummy!!
Thanks Tieghan!!
Thank you for trying this Debbi!! xTieghan
Love all these flavours! Excited to try this. Do you think I could tweak this to use frozen cauliflower? If not will waif for our next produce delivery. Thanks!
Hi Steph,
You can definitely use frozen cauliflower, just be sure to thaw and drain the liquid first. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Just made it tonight. Followed the recipe to a T and it was delicious! All of the flavors came together so nicely, none overwhelming another. Thanks for sharing this!!
Thank you so much Maura! I am so glad this recipe turned out well for you! xTieghan
Simple delicious and uses some of my favorite ingredients – recipe saved!
Thank you so much Melissa! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, do you anything with the other half of the chopped lemon?
Hi Brittany,
No you can use that for another dish. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions!
So good! we replaced the chicken with paneer as we are vegetarian and the flavors were so fresh. Definitely recommend this recipel
Thank you so much! I am really glad this turned out well for you! xTieghan
This was so flavorful and delicious! We had leftovers and had them for lunch the next day and it was still so good!! Excellent!!
Thank you so much Donna! xTieghan
Absolutely amazing dish! The flavors are so fresh and delicious. I will be making this again for sure!
Thank you so much Bree!! I am glad you enjoyed this recipe! xTieghan
I made this last night to rave reviews! My husband will eat anything, but rarely requests repeats. He told me I could make this chicken anytime! The cauliflower cucumber salad was also delicious. And of course, the naan was probably the most popular thing on the table. Who doesn’t like fresh made naan covered in garlic herb butter? My three-year-old couldn’t get enough of it. Because I grilled the chicken outside on our gas barbecue, I threw the naan on there once the chicken was done. It was nice to get all the naan cooked in one go. Thanks for another crowd pleasing recipe!
Oh wow! I am so glad you all enjoyed this recipe, Noelle!! Thank you for trying this one! xTieghan
hi there! could someone help me understand the kcals? there is no way this meal is almost 400,000 calories, right? thanks!
Hi Ashley! kcals are the same as calories. This meal has 358 kcal per servings, so 2,148 kcal for the entire recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hey Tieghan,
This looks fantastic and I’d love to make it. I don’t like Cauliflower at all any suggestion what to use as a replacement for the sauce?? I know I’ve told you before but your recipes inspire me more then anyone I’ve seen. I am working on my cooking business and its your recipes I use when making food for people. When I worked in my last catering kitchen I sang your praises everyday. I told them they should incorporate your recipes into what they offer their clients. You take every recipe and elevate into something amazingly delicious. Many other blogs and chefs I’ve seen don’t have this talent. Thanks for the continued amazing recipes.you’re the best!! I’m glad I found your blog and look forward to meeting you one day.:)
Hi Mike! I am so glad you like this one! You can sub broccoli or another root vegetable for the cauliflower! Also, you are so kind! I am glad you enjoy my blog and I hope you continue to! xTieghan
This recipe was great. The chicken was so flavorful. We ended up making a tahini yogurt sauce with it because we had some on hand. Instead of cauliflower(my husband and son don’t like it), we made farro with cilantro, garlic, parsley, lemon zest, and sliced mixed olives. Definitely a keeper.
Thank you so much Lauren! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe! xTieghan
Hi I’m planning on making this tonight or tomorrow and I can’t wait! I just realize we’re out of tomato paste- any good replacements? I saw that we have red curry paste- could be interesting? Let me know what you think!
Hi Catherine,
I haven’t tried that but you certainly could, it would definitely add some extra flavor. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Oh man. Made this tonight, and served it with your homemade garlic naan bread. We kind of used the naan to wrap it all up, and eat it almost like a pita. This was one of the best things I’ve made in a long time. That chicken. And sauce. And the cauliflower. And the naan . 🤤🤤🤤. Just perfect!!!
Yes!! So glad this one turned out so well for you, Kristen! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
During the entire sheltering at home, I haven’t wanted to actually make a real meal that wasn’t a salad kit or that I could microwave. I saw this recipe on your IG stories and HAD to make it. My neighbors were so jealous of the wonderful smells coming from the outdoor grill. I used skinless chicken thighs and they turned out sooooo flavorful. I made the cucumber and cauliflower salad and even tried making naan for the first time. My naan was a bit doughy, I think I needed to roll it thinner. Thank you for inspiring me to start cooking ❤️
Haha yes!! I am so glad you tried this and it turned out so well for you! Thank you Ali! xTieghan
Just finished this dish and it got rave reviews from my three boys and husband. It was delish! I particularly loved the cauliflower salad. When the boys sang the meals praises, I said it’s from my Colorado girl. My boys all follow Red and his crazy shenanigans and know that I follow you. Thanks for inspiration and soul nourishing during our lock down. Maybe in the near future, I can make it for some friends but until then… my family will happily do a take two on this recipe. Stay safe.
Nancy
Aw that is so amazing to hear! I am so glad you all loved this recipe, Nancy! I hope you continue to enjoy this and others of mine! xTieghan
SO GOOD! I didn’t have chicken breast on hand, so spatchcocked a whole chicken and cooked on the Traeger. I left mine to marinade for 6 hours. Really tasty and juicy. I paired with the roasted cauliflower and chickpea salad. Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you Karen! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This was so good. Love all the complex flavors. There was no white meat at the grocery (covid) so I had thighs.
Great! I am glad this turned out so well for you, Shannon! xTieghan
Made this tonight and it was so good. The cauliflower is amazing. In order to get the chicken charred it got a little dried out. Next time I will use thighs and marinate overnight. I could probably eat the cauliflower every day for the rest of my life, it is so fresh and flavorful. We also made the Blueberry Lemon Smash cocktails, I rolled the extra roasted lemon in the leftover thyme lemon sugar which made a nice treat. Delicious spring meal.
Thank you so much Cheryl! I am glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This recipe was so easy to prepare and yet yielded a very complex flavor profile. Delicious. I could enjoy the cauliflower salad alone just for dinner. Great recipe.
Thank you so much!! I am glad this turned out so well for you!! xTieghan
My family loved this! Will definitely make again.
Thank you so much Alyssa! xTieghan
Hey! Do you think it would work if I roasted it in the oven with slices of onion and red pepper on the skewers as well as the chicken or would that be a weird mix with the lemon? I’m making Afghan Boulani this week and was planning to do a chicken skewer, and this sounds like it would be perfect!
Hi Janelle,
I think that would be totally fine to do! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This was so good. That chicken marinade is DIVINE.
Thank you so much Catherine! xTieghan
This recipe was another winner… I didn’t have olives so I chopped up some pickled jalapeños instead (we like this spicy over here). Thanks for this gem 🙂
Thank you so much Seema! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This was so delicious! Adding to one of my favourites!!
Thank you so much Katie! xTieghan
Loved everything about this! I didn’t have sunflower seeds, so I used pine nuts and capers instead of green olives, because I didn’t have them. I was leery of cucumbers and cauliflower together, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! It was so delicious! Thank you!
Thank you so much Heather! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This was a dang tasty recipe that was easy to follow. With so many great flavours and a beautiful finish, this recipe will become a staple in hosting dinner parties! I made it with roasted Beets, Carrots and Squash – the colours were gorgeous. The sweetness of this trio was a nice balance to the tart roasted lemons (I added only 1/3 to the dressing, to cut down on bite). I really think any roasted veg would be excellent (yams, zucchini, brussel sprouts?) Thanks Tieghan!
Thank you Peter! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! I hope you continue to enjoy my site and recipes! xTieghan
Quick question. What happens with the other half of the lemon for the vinaigrette for the Cauliflower? I only made the cauliflower which I loved….but kept looking at the recipe to see what to do with the other half!
Hi Donna! In the yogurt sauce? It is too add more as desired. Also, you could use it as a garnish on the plates! Please let me know if you have questions on this! xTieghan
Delicious! We had this tonight with your garlic naan and it was fantastic!
Thank you so much Christa! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Loved it!
Thank you so much Lisa! xTieghan
We made this last week and I’ve just added it to dinner plans for mid-next week. It’s easy to throw together, insanely delicious, and perfect for warmer weather. Can’t wait to make it again.
Thank you so much Christine! xTieghan
Just made this and it was phenomenal!!!! Think it’s the best meal I’ve ever made. I’m not a huge cook but you really inspire and encourage me to make these amazing meals. Thank you!!!!
Thank you Laura! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for all of you! xTieghan
You char the lemon and then chop it all, and then only add half to the salad… where does the other half of the charred lemon go that you chop? Love all your recipes! Thanks!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks so much for your kind message! You can save the other half to use later or add more depending upon your taste! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made this tonight and it was absolutely amazing!!!! it was bursting with flavor. Think it was the best meal I’ve ever made. I’m not someone who usually cook a lot but your recipes are encouraging me to do so – and giving me confidence. Thank you SO much!! Xoxo
Thank you Laura! I am really glad you have been enjoying my recipes, and I hope you continue to!! xTieghan
Excited to make tonight! Can I make the cauliflower salad in advance and keep in fridge for day so that we can just sit outside and grill? Or is the cauliflower supposed to be hot?
Love your food! We’ve had your Greek Lamb meatballs already this week!
Hi Niki,
You could totally make the cauliflower in advance, I do like to serve it warm but I think cold would be great too! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any others questions! xTieghan
How do I make the naan do you recipe if so can you pleaseeee link it so I can make this for my man tomorrow he’s been asking for this all week ❤️
Hi Rew! I will leave both links to my naan recipes below! I hope you love this and the naan!! xTieghan
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/herbed-garlic-butter-naan/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-naan-step-step-photos/
How do I make the naan do you have recipe if so can you pleaseeee link it so I can make this for my man tomorrow he’s been asking for this all week ❤️
This looks amazing, any tips on what to use instead of Greek yogurt? Thanks and can’t wait to make it 😊
Hi Hannah! You could use sour cream in its place! I hope you love this recipe! xTieghan
Holy smokes! Amazing dinner – I think this is one of my favorite meals ever. The cauliflower salad is tremendous on its own but pairs so well with the chicken. Definitely a repeat with company once we can have some!
Thank you so much Niki! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
What do I do with the other half of the chopped charred lemon? It says add half to the bowl with cauliflower, but I don’t see what I do with the rest of it.
Hi Ami,
You can add the remainder according to taste or save for other recipe. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made this today. It was amazingggggg
Another amazing delicious recipe! So light and fresh! Absolutely perfect for this Melbourne weather which can’t really decide if it’s hot or cold just yet! Cheers!
Thank you Sarah! xTieghan
Made chicken bowls last night and used this recipe for the chicken, put it over some white rice with hummus and the #halfbakedharvest feta fries on the side, then drizzled a little green goddess dressing over the top. OH. MY. GOODNESS. It was amazing! The chicken has just the right amount of spice to it. Will definitely be making again!
I am so glad these turned out so well for you Lindsey! A new fav! Thank you so much! xTieghan
This recipe was so delicious! Made for my family in quarantine and everyone loved it! They all said it was their favorite meal all of quarantine! Also, it wasn’t a ton of work and it was easy to clean up which were all pluses! I’ve been recommending to everyone and will definitely make again!
Wow that is so amazing to hear! Thank you Chelsea! xTieghan
What do you do with the other half of chopped charred lemon?
Hi Kay! You can save the lemon to use later or use it in the dish depending on your taste. I hope you love this recipe! xTieghan
I friend shared this recipe on Instagram last week and was raving about it. i tried it last night and it was amazing! My 2-year old ate four bowls of the chicken and all of the adults agreed that the cauliflower was the best vegetable dish we’d had in a long time. We live with my in-laws, who are not the most adventurous eaters, but even my olive-hating mother-in-law absolutely loved this.
I am so glad you decided to try this one and it turned out amazing for you, Megan! Thank you! xTieghan
Made this recipe today for lunch and it was very unique and delicious! Thanks for sharing the dish with us!
Thank you for trying it Jenny! I am glad it turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Just finished eating this one! AMAZING spring dish!!! soooo fresh and amazing flavors. It was a fam favorite!
Aw that is so great to hear! Thank you Stephanie! xTieghan
Another excellent recipe! I happened to have Trader Joe’s garlic naan in my freezer (admittedly not as good as homemade, but convenient) and served the dish with Israeli couscous as well to fill up my hungry teenagers. Thank you!
Oh I bet they were so excited haha! Thank you so much for trying this one, Amy!! xTieghan
Uses chicken thighs instead, Marinated for good 4 hours. Grilled chicken and coulifower on the grill. Good stuff.
Thank you so much Adam! That is so great! xTieghan
This was SO delicious… and fun! My picky 11 and 14 year olds gobbled it up too, which is no small feat 🙂
Thank you so much Valerie! xTieghan
Delicious! Made it twice in one week!
Wow yes!! Thank you Laurie! xTieghan
I made the chicken and it was amazing! I did flub and put ground red pepper (Cayenne’s little brother) instead of paprika and honestly, it was delish and added a nice little kick! I think I will sub one tsp of that moving forward. Thank you so much for your amazing recipes, keep crushing!
Aw you’re too kind! I hope you continue to love this recipe and others! Thank you Laura! xTieghan
This chicken is SO GOOD! I’m going to make this all the time now. So flavorful and delicious — and easy!
Thank you so much Claire! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This dish deserves a 5 star rating! I didn’t have enough chicken on hand so I used barramundi as well and oh. My. Gawd. Amazing. The cauli with charred lemons was a bit of work but the taste was SO worth the effort. My husband was so blown away by the flavours he said we shouldn’t need to go to mediterranean or middle eastern restaurants anymore (LOL) because we can do this at home!
Wow that is so amazing to hear! Thank you so much for trying this recipe, Alhy! I hope you continue to love other recipes of mine! xTieghan
Made this tonight and everyone loved it! Thank you so much for your creative recipes that taste like restaurant quality (or better lol) during these tough times
Thank you so much Alison! I am really glad you enjoyed this recipe and I hope you continue to enjoy others! xTieghan
This was so good, easy and quick. Received rave reviews from the family, definitely a keeper. We don’t care for cucumbers, so just left them out. The cauliflower is SO good!! Thank you for the recipe. PS I used Mother’s Day as an excuse to make the carrot cake from your book and my family went CRAZY over it. It is insanely good, I also love the construction. I just had to say.
Thank you so much Denise!! So glad this turned out so well for your Mother’s Day! I hope you continue to love other recipes of mine as well! xTieghan
Just made this for dinner and it was absolutely delicious. Husband and I both demolished our plates.
I made a couple of changes just based on what I was able to get ahold of and what I had time to do (aka was too lazy to do absolutely everything.
I marinated my chicken for 7 hours – cut it up and made up the marinade while I sorted out lunch, so that it would be well marinated in time for dinner! I wasn’t sure if I’d like the marinade just because of the tomato paste but I was proven so so so wrong. It was so good! You seriously can’t go wrong with a garlicky lemony marinade when it comes to chicken.
I roasted the cauliflower and lemon slices and here’s where my lazy butt made some changes – I basically skipped making the salad, and instead added in some sweet potato to the roasting tray (I’m obsessed with roasted sweet potato and caulliflower). Tossed with OO, paprika, salt, a little bit of cumin, roasted garlic powder and a dash of cumin. I ended up using the charred lemon in the yogurt sauce with a dash of sweet paprika.
Plated the whole thing up with some pita and eeeeh! So good! I really wish I had the pumpkin seeds for the added crunch, but just opted for a dukkah nut mix from Trader Joes and some roughly chopped cilantro!
I’m already looking forward to eating the leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
Yes yes yes! I am really glad this turned out so amazing for you Shannon!! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
If you are making a comfort Lebanese recipe, do it the Lebanese way!
Forget the cilantro, instead fresh MINT USE SUMAC!
Not Greek Yogurt, it leaves a bad after taste instead buy plain yogurt ( plain no flavor ) pour it into a strainer with a tea towel put it in the frig to let it drain and you will have real and the best Labany ( one day to a couple of days). You won’t be sorry!
Thank you for this! I am sure some will love these suggestions! xTieghan
Everything was so delicious! The first thing my husband said is “when we make this again, we gotta have pita!” 😂 and he also shocked me by saying “not to overshadow the chicken because it’s absolutely fantastic, but the cauliflower steals the show!” Truly couldn’t believe my meat-loving South African husband said these words, but I’m thrilled as I loved it too!! 😂😂
Wow yes!! That is the best when you don’t expect someone to love something that much! Thank you so much for trying this Annie! xTieghan
This is one of my favorite recipes of yours to make! So delicious and satisfying and I don’t have to feel bad after. All your recipes are amazing, thank you!
Thank you Gabby! That is really great to hear! xTieghan
✌️Had this recipe as dinner tonight and it was so, so good!!! We cook a lot of your awesome recipes but this is one of the very best!
Greetings from Munich, Germany
Thank you so much Sibylle! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This is so good. And feels like healthy eating. I didn’t have pumpkin seeds so am sad I didn’t get that in there and made chicken in oven as you said would work – but still a winner.
I honestly am a bit amazed my family ate this. Just all casual, not batting an eye at an unusual combination because I said it was your recipe. They trusted it would be good – and all said it is. What a cool trick!
Really yummy.
Thank you so much Stefanie!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you all! xTieghan
I just made this in the oven and it was to die for. Honestly the cauliflower cucumber salad was the star of the plate. its light and summery. Not heavy on the tummy… unless you ate two servings like me.
Thank you so much Nichelle! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This recipe is restaurant quality and so easy to make! A hit with my family. We will make it again soon!
Thank you so much Kara! xTieghan
Made this for Memorial Day dinner! We loved it! The flavors were outstanding.
Thank you so much Jeffreyann! xTieghan
This was SO good and also really easy. The flavors were new but so fresh. My husband didnt want seonds so that he “could enjoy this again another day”! Highly recommend!
Haha the self control!! Love that! Thank you so much for trying this one, Jaclyn! xTieghan
I just made this recipe and let me tell you that turned out delicious! I have a 5 and a 3 year old and they are everything on their plates . I can’t wait to try another recipe tomorrow night but I have a hard time deciding which one 🙂
Wow that is so great to hear!! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you, Karina! xTieghan
Honestly this recipe was beyond outstanding!!! Had some chicken thighs and a head of cauliflower sitting in the fridge and basically googled “chicken and cauliflower recipe” to use both, talk about a major score!!! We are huge fans of Middle Eastern cuisines and this recipe has earned its place in my recipe database. I couldn’t believe my luck when I read and discovered that I had 95% of the ingredients (only 1 ½ lemons but several limes!). The flavours, once fused together, of the charred cauliflower and the salad were beyond amazing! I had no naan or pita in the house but did have some leftover rice so after grilling my chicken, I made a bit more of the marinade and mixed it in with the rice and a few tablespoons of water and OMG, a full course meal worthy of any 5 star Lebanese restaurant!!!! As mentioned above, I will be making this one again and again! I posted the picture to My Facebook account and every person asked me to post the recipe – a real winner and super simple yet a bit more time to prep but so so worth it!
That is the best when you have all the ingredients! I am so glad you loved this recipe, Carri! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
Hey there – I just put this into myfitnesspal ahead of making it for tonight and it has come out at a slightly heftier 487 calories per portion (likely due to the amount of oil in the recipe). Buuuuut…I don’t care! This has all the summery flavours of paprika and lemon and dill that I love and it is totally worth cutting back on lunch cals for! Just put the chicken in to marinate and now dinner can’t come quick enough!
I am really glad you still loved this one, Kirsten! Thank you so much for trying it!! xTieghan
Just as an aside, you say in step 3 to finely chop the charred lemon and add half of it to the salad…what happens to the other half? I’m so sorry if I’m being a dork and can’t see it! 😁
Hi Kirsten,
You can save or add the other half according to taste. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Holy moley. This is the third of your recipes that I’ve made over the quarantine-vacation-from-reality and I’m so glad I did. I was worried I wouldn’t like it because I’m not a huge fan of cauliflower, I don’t like olives, and who roasts lemons and eats the rind?! Me. I do. It was amazing. Every bit of it was fantastic. Now that I’m more familiar with it, I can’t wait to make it again. Also, your chicken tinga tacquitos (they turned into tacos because my tortillas crumbled) with the avocado lime crema (also great on top of avocado toast!) were the bomb, as was your zucchini involtini. Thank you for sharing your culinary creativity!
Haha I am SO glad you loved this one, Holly! Thank you so much for trying it!! xTieghan
This was SO good! I used a mix of frozen broccoli and cauliflower, and chicken thighs because that’s what i has on hand. I didn’t have yogurt or pita/naan so i served with quinoa and roasted cabbage. I also added a red onion to the chicken to marinate and cook. Thank you for your amazing recipes!! we are still finishing the peanut butter pretzel ice cream cake i made for my husbands birthday, which was also outstanding!
I am really glad this turned out so amazing for you, Jordy!! Thank you! xTieghan
Love this! I have probably made this once a week since I found this recipe. It is delicious and has sparked my interest in other Lebanese dishes. Thank you so much for posting!!
Thank you Julie!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you!! xTieghan
I think my husband told me how good this dish was over 14 times, I made it yesterday and today made more charred cauliflower and added it to the leftover salad and it was still really good. He has already said he wants this dish for his birthday next month. Thanks!
Haha wow that is so amazing to hear!! Thank you so much Meli!! I hope you both continue to love it! xTieghan
Hi, how much does the this recipe cost per serving? No more than $5 per serving correct?
Hi Gaby,
I am honestly not sure as I have not priced out this meal. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I love your blog! I’ve tried so many of your recipes with success and I was never a good cook but your recipes are so detailed… everything comes out great!
Thank you Sonia! I am really happy to hear that! xTieghan
This was such a huge hit with my family. The roasted broccoli and lemon salad is even good as a salad to take for BBQs.
Thank you SallieAnn! That is so great to hear! xTieghan
This is so good. I have had consistent results and is now makes almost a weekly appearance in our weeknight dinners!
Thank you Kristina!! xTieghan
This one is one of our favorites! Paired it with brown rice instead of Naan. Great job!
Thank you so much Anjalj! xTieghan
Love this recipe so much, it’s so flavorful and the cauliflower salad with sauce amazing. Makes great leftovers and would recommend this for meal prep as well as it makes a lot. Served it with the recommended fries and garlic naan OMG.
So happy you loved these, Carrie! Thank you so much for trying this! xTieghan
This was amazing. Based on what i had in my kitchen, and a family member who won’t eat olives, I used::
Capers instead of olives
Chicken thighs instead of breasts
Regular whole milk yogurt instead of Greek
Absolutely delicious. And easy. Thanks for the great meal!
Amazing! Thank you so much Debra! xTieghan
This is an excellent recipe – our whole family loved it. We like heavy spice so I added harissa powder, cinnamon, and cumin to the marinade but otherwise made this exactly as is. SO wonderful! Thanks for your great source of cooking inspiration.
Thank you Lindsey!! I am so happy this recipe turned out so well for you!! xTieghan
This is a must try! Seems manageable, but sooo delicious.
Thank you so much Cecilie! xTieghan
This was so delicious! The cauliflower was delicious & so fresh.
Thank you so much Charlotte!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I made this for a small family BBQ, it was a hit 🙂
Love to hear that! Thank you so much Frankie! xTieghan
This was beyond delicious. It took awhile for me to make, but I am also a novice. It is healthy, tasty, and unique. 10 out of 10, amazing.
Thank you so much Hayley! xTieghan
made this today, i used thighs instead of breasts sliced them roasted it on a sheet pan for 15 minutes took it out of the oven, removed the chicken from the juices sautéed in olive oil to get that grill char then deglazed the pan with the juices it was a hit
Parsley, lemon, olives so good
The yogurt dressing we had extra BUT it is a good base for tatziki!!
Hi Derek! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
This is now known as “momma’s favorite chicken!” In our house! I ❤️❤️❤️ This recipe and cooked over charcoal – TO DIE FOR!!
Thank you for this recipe. It changed my chicken eating life. 🤣🙌🏻
Thank you Heather! I am really glad this recipe turned out well for you! xTieghan
Yowza!!!! This recipe has the perfect trifecta: easy to prep, quick to cook and delicious to eat! We all loved it! I was too lazy to skewer and grill the chicken , so I roasted it and then ran it under the broiler for a quick char.
I honestly don’t know how the salad tasted so great! I felt like I was throwing random ingredients in on a whim. Hmm…what’s on hand? Some herbs – throw that in. Olives? Chop those up and throw those in… oh, look a cucumber! THrow that in… Oh and some chopped up cooked lemon – yeah, throw that in.
BUt holy cow – it all worked beautifully together!!!!! Made a little addition – I watched a Master Class on middle eastern food and prepared some hazelnut dukkah a couple of weeks ago. Once the dish was composed, I sprinkled some of it on top for some extra crunch
Keeping this one on hand for company when I’m allowed to have them over again!
Hey Janis,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
I have never had Lebanese food and was so intrigued when I found the recipe. It was so delicious I can’t believe the flavor profile and how everything complimented each other. Thanks for such a delish recipe I got major points tonight!
Hey Jenn,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for trying it out! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
Delicious! 5/5 stars. I made the chicken (marinated 4 hours) and garlic yogurt sauce but didn’t cook the cauliflower. Served with rice, roasted tomatoes, and salad. I cooked this on skewers in a 400 oven for 20 minutes. 5 minutes less would have been perfect, with a minute or two under the broiler. Thank you for this great recipe.
Hey Meg,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
Even better than I expected! This was relatively easy and super delicious. I’d recommend marinading the chicken for as long as you can. The chicken was SO tender. And the cauliflower was herby and zingy and delicious. LOVED this recipe!
Hey there,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
Wow ! I liked the recipe from the ingredients but it truly has become one of my favorite meals to make. The preparation time isn’t too long and the grill speeds things up for sure. Looking forward to incorporating this into my weekly meal prep.
Hey Angie,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am delighted it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
This was delicious!!!!! My charred lemon came out a little bitter but I should have roasted it for more…but the chicken is so tender and so flavorful!!!!! Will definitely make this again!
Hey Heather,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
Just so good – every time I make it I absolutely love it!
Hey Claire,
I am so glad you have enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week! xTieghan
My co-workers may curse me for the amount of garlic, but this was fabulous. My husband is raving about how good this was. Thank you!!
Hey there,
Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am delighted it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
This dish was totally different than anything I’ve ever had and I’ve been to the Middle East! The flavor profile is unique, interesting and delish. My entire family loved it despite the skepticism.
Hey Christine,
Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
First recipe we’ve tired of yours and we absolutely LOVED IT!! Oh my god, the flavors together were amazing. The salad!? Are you kidding me!? As I was putting it together I definitely didn’t think the flavors were going to be great together but my god, I was wrong. We had to cook the cauliflower about 10 minutes longer to get it to our liking, which was fine with us because the chicken was still grilling! Thank you!! This has been added to the rotation!
Hey Brit,
Happy Weekend! Thanks for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
This made such a great meal! We really liked the charred cauliflower. I’m glad I waited until it was really charred, as it carmelized it.. The chicken marinade complimented the greens. The dressing was great with the charred lemon. The only thing missing was za’atar. I can understand why you left it off as the ingredient list looked kinda long, but it wasn’t hard to make at all and if you have it the za’atar just made a great finish to the flavors.
Hey Jan,
Awesome! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Happy Friday:) xTieghan
made the cauliflower part of this recipe tonight but with broccoli instead and it was SO good, my entire family loved it and they can be hard to please. Would definitely recommend this recipe!! I’m sure the rest of it is just as good and I’m planning on making the entire thing soon!
Hey Jen,
Fantastic! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Made this last night for my mom’s birthday dinner and it went over incredibly! It was a bit more prep than I expected, but it was well worth it. We used the roasting method, I cut the chicken breasts into 1.5 inch cubes and put 5 on each kabob skewer and roasted it for 25 minutes. The food was delicious and there was no chicken left afterwards. Next time, I’ll make more chicken.
Hey Cindy,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
I made this with some adjustments to suit my personal tastes (e.g., no olives, subbed grape tomatoes for the cukes) & dietary needs (less oil than called for). Still, really outstanding. I agree with the chef, do NOT forgo the roasted, chopped lemon in this recipe. It’s fantastic.
I used fresh, flat-leaf parsley & mint for the “salad” — it was quite refreshing!
This is a keeper!
Hey there,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
We made this tonight and it was DELICIOUS!
If I may make a suggestion, you could mention in the recipe that you save the other half of the roasted lemon for a future use. I spent a decent amount of time reading and re-reading the article and recipe trying to find out what to do with it. I thought I was missing where it was mentioned. I even had my husband look to make sure I wasn’t crazy. It wasn’t until I finally did a search for “half of” that I saw the answer in the comments.
Thanks of this and all of your recipes that have come out so wonderfully!
Hey Stephanie,
Happy Monday! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
I threw this together on a Wednesday night, and it was super easy and tasty! I wanted to cut down the fat content, so for the salad I only used 2 Tbsp olive oil instead of 1/3 cup – it was plenty. I also used avocado oil instead of olive oil when roasting the cauliflower because of the high oven temperature. Skipped the olives and nuts because I didn’t have any. Even with those tweaks, this came out great – and that yogurt sauce slaps!
Hey Anna,
Awesome!! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan