Description
Lebanese Lemon Garlic Chicken al Aseel bursts with Middle Eastern flavors that dance right off your plate. Marinating chicken in a zesty blend of garlic, lemon, and spices creates a tender, juicy dish that brings restaurant-quality magic to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken tenderloin
- 4 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
Marinade Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon garlic
- 1 teaspoon cooking salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon garlic
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon cooking salt
Garnish and Serving:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- Lemon wedges
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Lebanese bread
Instructions
- Whisk together 3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp grated garlic, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 1 tsp salt in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 tbsp yogurt and blend thoroughly.
- Slice 500g chicken tenderloin into 4cm squares, removing large veins. Coat each piece completely in the marinade mixture.
- Cover the marinated chicken and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour, allowing flavors to penetrate deeply.
- Prepare yogurt sauce by combining 1 cup yogurt, ¾ tsp grated garlic, 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp tahini, 1 tbsp water, and 1 tsp salt. Stir until smooth.
- Preheat grill pan over medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Add 2 tbsp olive oil to ensure even heating.
- Arrange marinated chicken pieces in hot pan, cooking 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Transfer grilled chicken to serving plate. Drizzle with prepared yogurt sauce and sprinkle 1 tsp chopped parsley on top.
- Garnish with fresh lemon wedges and extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately with warm Lebanese bread for dipping.
Notes
- Marinate chicken for at least 3-4 hours or overnight for deeper flavor and more tender meat.
- Use fresh lemon juice and crush garlic cloves by hand for the most vibrant marinade.
- Pat chicken dry before grilling to help achieve a perfect golden-brown exterior with crisp edges.
- For a lighter version, swap chicken thighs with chicken breast and reduce marinade time to prevent drying out.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Lebanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 to 4
- Calories: 338 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 860 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg