Syrian Roast Chicken With Lemon & Garlic Recipe

Every Friday at Comal, Denver's food incubator for aspiring immigrant restaurateurs, you'll find a Middle Eastern feast being prepared by Iraqi-Syrian refugees Vian Alnidawi and Sara Nassr. Their spread includes everything from shakriyeh, a lamb yogurt stew, to this traditional roast chicken, where the crispy meat rests on a bed of potatoes and onions before being brushed with lemon and garlic. It's the kind of Syrian home cooking that's helping the mother-daughter duo make a name for themselves among locals and big-name chefs alike.

To learn more, read "Coming Home."

Recipe adapted from Vian Alnidawi and Sara Nassr, Comal Heritage Food Incubator, Denver, CO

Jaj Bl Hamed w Tum (Baked Chicken with Lemon & Garlic)
5 (51 ratings)
Learn how to make jaj bl hamed w tum, a Syrian dish of roast chicken legs smothered in lemon and garlic with potatoes and onions.
Prep Time
10
minutes
Cook Time
1.17
hours
Servings
4
servings
Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Ingredients
  • 1 medium onion, cut in in half, julienned
  • 2 large russet potatoes, cut into wedges
  • 4 chicken legs
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt (or to taste)
  • 7 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 5 garlic cloves, grated
  • 2 lemons, juiced, roughly ⅓ cup of juice
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large mixing bowl, toss the onions, potatoes and chicken legs with the salt and 5 tablespoons of olive oil.
  2. Arrange the onion and potato pieces evenly across a deep baking tray, then place the chicken legs on top. Bake for 1 hour.
  3. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the grated garlic, lemon juice and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  4. Remove the baking tray from the oven; the chicken should be brown and crispy. Spread the lemon-garlic mixture on top, then return the tray to the oven for 8 minutes.
  5. Divide the legs among 4 plates and serve.
Nutrition
Calories per Serving 1,116
Total Fat 78.8 g
Saturated Fat 18.4 g
Trans Fat 0.2 g
Cholesterol 319.9 mg
Total Carbohydrates 40.4 g
Dietary Fiber 3.8 g
Total Sugars 3.1 g
Sodium 1,424.1 mg
Protein 61.1 g
The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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