Çerkez Tavuğu
Çerkez Tavuğu is a delicious mezze/side dish made of shredded poached chicken mixed with a creamy walnut sauce.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 461kcal
Equipment
- 1 kitchen scale
- 1 Measuring cups
- 1 measuring spoons
- 1 Saucepan
Ingredients
- 14 oz chicken breast (400 grams)
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup crushed walnuts (100 grams)
- 3 slices stale bread
- 1 ½ cup cooking liquid from the chicken
- 1 clove garlic (grated)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
For the Garnish
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon flaked chilli (pul biber)
- 1 tablespoon crushed walnuts
- ¼ teaspoon coriander powder
- parsley leaves
Instructions
- Place the chicken in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce the heat to low and gently simmer for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Remove chicken, reserve the liquid, and set it aside to cool while preparing the walnut sauce.
- While the chicken is cooling down, lightly toast the walnuts and crush them between two layers of silicon paper using a rolling pin to release their oil. Alternatively, you can use a food processor to speed things up.
- Strain the chicken broth into a bowl through a fine sieve and then add the stale bread to the broth. Break the bread into small pieces using your fingers.
- Shred the chicken meat into small strips and place it into a large bowl. Alternatively, you can use leftover chicken and shred it into small pieces.
- Add the crushed walnuts, bread, garlic, salt, coriander powder, freshly ground black pepper, and paprika to the shredded chicken.
- Mix them all together until nicely combined and transfer the mixture to a serving plate.
- Heat the olive oil, flaked chili (pul biber), and coriander over medium heat for a couple of minutes.
- Drizzle the olive oil on top of the dish and sprinkle on some crushed walnuts and parsley leaves.
Notes
- Lightly toast the walnuts and crush them between two layers of silicon paper using a rolling pin to release their oil.
- This chicken dish is perfect to use up leftover chicken meat and stale bread pieces.
- Cerkez Tavugu is best served warm or at room temperature, and it tastes even better the next day.
- You can serve it as a meze/appetizer with some baguette slices/crackers or use it for making sandwiches!
- This easy chicken dish is perfect for quick weekday meals or big family gatherings/parties.
- For big family gatherings or parties, you can make this dish with a whole chicken.
- Poach the chicken with some aromatic vegetables&herbs (mirepoix) such as carrots, onions, celery, bay leaves, and peppercorns to add extra flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 461kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 936mg | Potassium: 647mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 133IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg