Sami Tamimi, the renowned chef, presents two effortless sharing recipes perfect for entertaining: a one-tray chicken, pasta and chickpea bake, and a vibrant spring vegetable and sumac salad. These dishes are designed to be prepared ahead, allowing hosts to enjoy time with guests while serving generous, flavorful meals.
One-Tray Chicken, Pasta and Chickpea Bake
This comforting bake combines tender chicken, hearty chickpeas, and perfectly cooked pasta in a rich, spiced sauce. Everything cooks together in the oven, minimizing prep and cleanup. The recipe serves four and requires about 15 minutes of preparation and 1 hour 15 minutes of cooking.
Ingredients include olive oil, lemon juice, smoked and sweet paprika, cumin, oregano, skin-on chicken thighs, onions, bell peppers, garlic, cherry tomatoes, red pepper paste, tomato paste, chicken stock, tubetti rigati pasta, chickpeas, parsley, and almonds. The chicken is marinated with spices and lemon, then roasted atop vegetables until crisp. Pasta and chickpeas are added with stock, and the dish finishes baking until the pasta is tender. Garnish with parsley and almonds before serving.
Spring Vegetable and Sumac Salad
This salad bursts with spring flavors: cucumber, radishes, herbs, and sweet peas, accented by tangy sumac pickled shallots. Preparation takes 10 minutes, plus at least 15 minutes for marinating the shallots. It serves four.
Key ingredients include Lebanese cucumbers, little gem lettuce, parsley, mint, radishes, frozen peas, spring onions, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, and pickled shallots made with shallot, sumac, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and salt. The cucumber is shaved into ribbons, lettuce is quartered, and all vegetables are tossed with dressing. The salad is layered on a platter and topped with pickled shallots.
These recipes are ideal for casual gatherings, offering simplicity and bold Middle Eastern-inspired flavors.
