Cerkez Tavuk // Circassian Chicken

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Serves 4–6

Ingredients

Circassian chicken

1 Whole chicken, 

2 medium onions, peeled and quartered

1 cinnamon stick 

5 cloves

2 tbsp salt, plus extra to season 

300g roasted walnuts

5 slices of stale bread, crusts removed 

4 cloves of garlic

2 tsp Turkish red pepper flakes

2 tbsp black pepper, plus extra to season 

1 bunch of coriander leaves, chopped

Spiced oil

5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp Turkish red pepper flakes

1 tsp paprika

Method

For the Circassian chicken, combine whole chicken, garlic, onion, cloves, cinnamon sticks and water (just enough to cover) in a large pan. Season with salt, cover, and simmer until tender/cooked. 

Remove chicken, cool slightly, discard skin, shred meat into thin strips, set aside. Reserve the cooking liquid.

For the walnut dressing, soak the bread in a little of the reserved cooking liquid, squeeze dry, and crumble into a bowl. Add walnuts, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.

Blend in a food processor until smooth, adding reserved liquid a spoonful at a time until creamy. Fold in fresh coriander, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Toss the walnut dressing with the shredded chicken. Place on a serving plate.

Heat the extra virgin olive oil, add Turkish red pepper flakes and paprika, and cook gently for 1 minute.

Drizzle the spiced oil over the chicken, and serve.