Halal Guys Chicken and Rice Copycat Recipe

halal guys chicken and rice copycat recipe

The Halal Guys Chicken and Rice is one of my favorite frugal New York street food experiences.  Located on the corner of 53rd and 6th, New Yorkers and tourists alike line up for a taste of this mouth-watering goodness for just $6 a pop (more on Frugal New York Eats).  Every once in a while, I crave it and nothing I can get in my smallish Minnesota city comes close.

Recently, I experimented with Halal Guys Chicken and Rice copycat recipes I could make at home.  The one I landed on was definitely close enough to keep me happy until my next New York City trip.  To make it even easier, I used my crock pot to cook the chicken thighs.  It’s a great meal to make on a busy evening.  Just set the crock pot to go before you leave for the day, and come home to the savory smell of chicken.  The rice can be ready in about half an hour.  For a kick, add Harisa Hot Sauce.

Halal Guys Chicken and Rice Copycat Recipe
 
Ingredients
  • For the Chicken:
  • 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • ½ tsp. ground coriander
  • ½ tsp. cumin
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ C. olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (the kind in the bag work well)
  • For the Rice:
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • ½ tsp. turmeric
  • ¼ tsp. cumin
  • 1½ C. Basmati or Texmati rice
  • 2½ C. chicken broth
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • For the Sauce:
  • ½ C. mayonnaise
  • ½ C. Greek yogurt
  • 1 Tbsp. sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. white vinegar
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
  1. For the chicken, whisk together the lemon juice, oregano, coriander, cumin, garlic, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Place inside a crock pot and pour sauce over it. Cover and cook until chicken is done (4 hours on high, 6-8 hours on low).
  2. For the rice, heat butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Saute the rice for a couple minutes together with the tumeric and cumin, until it begins to brown slightly. Add the chicken broth, cover and reduce heat. Cook 20-25 minutes until liquid has been absorbed.
  3. Serve with shredded lettuce, tomato wedges, and pita.

Thanks to Serious Eats and The Huffington Post for the recipe inspiration.

Asian Glazed Salmon: A Flavor-Packed Dinner in Under 30 Minutes

asian glazed salmon ruby tuesday

The best thing about salmon, other than its great flavor, is the fact that it’s good for you.   It’s packed with Omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to lower your cholesterol and improve your memory (among other great things).

When it comes to preparing salmon, I often get stuck in a rut.  I went about searching for recipes the other day and came up with this one.  I love that this dish can be made in under 30 minutes from start to finish.  The red pepper flakes add a kick, but you can dial back the heat by adding more or less according to your taste.  Hoisin sauce is almost like an Asian molasses.  I found it in the ethnic section of our regular grocery store, but if you have trouble finding it you can always get it on Amazon.com.   If you want to go the frugal route, don’t get it at all and substitute molasses.  It won’t be as authentic-tasting, but it will still be good.

Frugal Tips:  Many people avoid eating salmon because it tends to be expensive.  A bag of four salmon fillets is just $4.99 in the freezer section at ALDI Food Stores.   When you offset a dish like this by serving it with rice, the cost is actually very reasonable.

This was originally posted on Mommysavers:  Ruby Tuesday copycat salmon

Asian Glazed Salmon
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • ½ C. brown sugar
  • ⅓ C. soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. hoisin sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh ginger, chopped finely
  • 1 tsp. dried red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 4 salmon fillets
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350. Mix together the brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, red pepper flakes, garlic powder and fresh lime juice. Heat in a medium saucepan until bubbly. Place salmon fillets in a baking dish. Pour the sauce over the fillets, coating well. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Serve over rice.