A Comforting Turkish Classic with Tender Chicken and Golden Vermicelli
Turkish Tavuklu Pilav is a simple yet richly comforting rice dish that combines tender shredded chicken with fluffy rice, golden toasted vermicelli and soft onions. The chicken is first cooked in stock, creating a savoury broth that becomes the foundation for the rice and gives the finished dish a deep, satisfying flavour.
Cooked chickpeas add a pleasant texture and make the pilav especially hearty, while the toasted vermicelli brings a delicate nutty note to the rice. Once the chicken is folded through the cooked rice, the dish is allowed to rest before being finished with fresh parsley and served with bright, refreshing accompaniments.
Ingredients
750 g basmati rice (4 cups), soaked for 30 minutes
1 kg chicken
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion
1 cup cooked chickpeas
80 g vermicelli
5½ cups chicken stock
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
Fresh parsley
Lemon wedges
Method
Cook and Shred the Chicken: Cook the chicken in the chicken stock for approximately 25 minutes until tender. Remove the chicken, shred it into pieces and reserve the stock for cooking the rice.
Prepare the Rice: Wash the rice thoroughly and soak it for 30 minutes. Drain the rice well and keep it ready for the next stage.
Toast the Vermicelli: Heat the butter in a cooking pot and add the vermicelli. Toast it until it turns golden, then add the chopped onion and cook until the onion becomes soft and fragrant.
Cook the Rice and Chickpeas: Add the drained rice and cooked chickpeas to the pot. Pour in 5½ cups of the reserved chicken stock, season with salt and black pepper, then cover and cook on low heat for about 20 minutes until the rice is tender.
Fold in the Chicken: Add the shredded chicken to the cooked rice and gently fold everything together. Cover and allow the pilav to rest for 10 minutes so the flavours settle and the rice becomes light and fluffy.
Garnish and Finish: Fluff the pilav gently and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with lemon wedges for a fresh citrus contrast to the savoury chicken and rice.
Serve
Serve Turkish Tavuklu Pilav with Turkish yogurt, shepherd’s salad and pickles for a balanced meal. Grilled vegetables can also be served alongside, while lemon wedges add a fresh, bright finish to the comforting rice and chicken.