Chicken Shawarma Barley Bowl
with za’atar cauliflower / garlic yogurt sauce

Name: Chicken Shawarma Barley Bowl
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups Barley, pearled and uncooked; 4 cloves Garlic, chopped; 2 Tbsp Oil, cooking; 2 Tbsp Lemon juice; 1/2 tsp Cumin; 1/2 tsp Paprika; 1/2 tsp Coriander, ground; 1/4 tsp Cinnamon; 1 lb Chicken thighs, boneless and skinless; 2 stalks Green onions, chopped, green and white parts combined; 6 oz Beets, pre-cooked, chopped (from produce section or canned and drained); for baking Foil; 1 lb Cauliflower florets, chopped; 1 Tbsp Oil, cooking; 2 tsp Za'atar; 3 cloves Garlic, chopped; 1 cup Yogurt, plain or Greek; 2 Tbsp Lemon juice

Active: 30 Total: 45

Original GF Paleo Vegetarian

For this easily customizable grain bowl, roast marinated chicken and cauliflower together on a single sheet pan. Roasting the chicken at high heat helps it to get golden brown and slightly crisp around the edges as a nod to traditional shawarma, which is cooked on a vertical rotisserie.
Smarts: Be sure to set aside 1 cup / 237 mL of cooked barley for Thursday's soup (that's for 4 servings, so be sure to adjust if customizing).

Ingredients

Metric

Servings:

Barley (enough for 2 nights):

Barley, pearled and uncooked - 1 1/2 cups

Chicken Shawarma Barley Bowl:

Garlic - 4 cloves , chopped
Oil, cooking - 2 Tbsp
Lemon juice - 2 Tbsp
Cumin - 1/2 tsp
Paprika - 1/2 tsp
Coriander, ground - 1/2 tsp
Cinnamon - 1/4 tsp
Chicken thighs, boneless and skinless - 1 lb
Green onions - 2 stalks , chopped, green and white parts combined
Beets, pre-cooked - 6 oz , chopped (from produce section or canned and drained)
Foil - for baking

Za’atar Cauliflower:

Cauliflower florets - 1 lb , chopped
Oil, cooking - 1 Tbsp
Za'atar - 2 tsp

Garlic Yogurt Sauce:

Garlic - 3 cloves , chopped
Yogurt, plain or Greek - 1 cup
Lemon juice - 2 Tbsp

Prep

Barley - (This makes enough for 2 nights.) Bring a saucepan of water to boil. Salt water generously and add barley. Simmer for 45 to 55 minutes until tender but not soggy. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Garlic (for chicken and yogurt sauce) / Cauliflower - (If prepping right before cooking, get oven heating first.) Prep as directed. Store separately. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Marinate chicken - Combine garlic (portion for chicken), oil (portion for chicken), lemon juice (portion for chicken), cumin, paprika, coriander, and cinnamon in a baking dish or Ziploc bag. Add chicken and toss to coat. Tenderize with a fork to allow more of the marinade to soak into the meat. Marinate for at least 20 minutes and up to a day. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
Make yogurt sauce - Combine garlic (portion for yogurt sauce), yogurt, and lemon juice (portion for yogurt sauce). (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Green onions / Beets - Prep as directed. Store separately. (Can be done up to 3 days ahead)

Make

Heat oven to 450F / 232C.
Line a sheet pan with foil and brush the foil with some cooking oil.
Toss cauliflower with oil (portion for cauliflower), za’atar, and some salt and pepper. Spread out on prepared sheet pan.
Remove chicken from marinade (discard marinade) and nestle into cauliflower. Season the tops of the chicken with some salt and pepper.
Transfer to oven and bake until cauliflower is golden and tender and chicken is cooked through (registers 165F / 74C degrees), 18 to 25 minutes.
If barley was made ahead, reheat in the microwave. (Reserve 1 cup / 237 mL of cooked barley for Thursday; for 4 servings, adjust if customizing.)
Move chicken to a cutting board and chop into bite-sized pieces.
Set out chicken, cauliflower, barley, beets, green onions, and yogurt sauce. Let everyone assemble the grain bowls at the table by creating a bed of barley and topping it with other ingredients. Enjoy!

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