A comforting Lebanese chicken and rice dish with golden toasted vermicelli, fragrant spices, and crunchy pine nuts.
Lebanese Chicken Riz Bi Sharieh combines basmati rice with tender chicken, toasted vermicelli, butter, and olive oil. The vermicelli is cooked until golden before the rice, onion, garlic, and warm spices are added, creating a deliciously nutty aroma and a savoury foundation for the dish.
The rice cooks in chicken stock, absorbing the flavour of the broth and seasonings until light and tender. Shredded chicken is folded through the finished rice, while toasted pine nuts and fresh parsley add a final touch of texture, colour, and freshness.
Ingredients
750 g basmati rice (4 cups), soaked for 20 minutes
1 kg chicken thighs or breast
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
100 g vermicelli
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp allspice
½ tsp cinnamon
Salt and pepper, to taste
5½ cups chicken stock
Pine nuts, for garnish
Fresh parsley, for garnish
Method
Wash and Soak the Rice
Rinse the basmati rice thoroughly and soak it for 20 minutes. Drain well and set aside.Cook the Chicken
Place the chicken in a pot with sufficient stock and cook until tender. Remove the chicken and shred it into bite-sized pieces. Reserve 5½ cups of the chicken broth for cooking the rice.Toast the Vermicelli
Heat the butter in a large pot. Add the vermicelli and stir until it turns golden brown, taking care not to burn it. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, then cook until softened and fragrant.Add Rice and Spices
Add the drained rice, allspice, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Stir gently so the rice is coated with the butter, vermicelli, and seasonings.Cook in Chicken Stock
Pour in the reserved chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and cook for approximately 20 minutes, until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed.Fold in Chicken and Garnish
Gently fold the shredded chicken into the cooked rice. Cover and let it rest for 10 minutes. Garnish with pine nuts and fresh parsley before serving.
Serve
Serve Lebanese Chicken Riz Bi Sharieh with cucumber yogurt, fattoush, hummus, and warm pita bread. The cool yogurt and crisp salad balance the rich, buttery rice, while hummus and pita complete the Lebanese-style meal.