Syrian Style Honey-Spiced Chicken with Currants Recipe
Syrian Style Chicken is a fragrant and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken pieces simmered in a rich sauce of aromatic spices, honey, and currants. This traditional Middle Eastern recipe balances sweet and savory flavors, creating a comforting and elegant meal perfect for serving with rice or couscous.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Syrian
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 whole chicken (cut into pieces)
Sauce and Seasoning
- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup currants (or raisins)
- 1 cup water or chicken broth
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper, then brown them in the pot until golden on all sides. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
- Make the Sauce: In the same pot, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes until softened. Add the ground cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, allspice, coriander, cloves, and black pepper. Stir the spices into the onions and garlic and cook for another 2 minutes to release their flavors.
- Cook the Chicken: Return the browned chicken pieces to the pot. Add the honey, currants (or raisins), and water or chicken broth. Stir to combine, ensuring the chicken is well-coated in the sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 30-40 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Serve: Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a serving platter and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. This dish pairs beautifully with rice, couscous, or quinoa and can be complemented with a dollop of Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt.
Notes
- You can substitute currants with raisins if desired.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, simmer uncovered for the last 10 minutes.
- Use chicken broth instead of water for a richer flavor.
- Adjust the amount of honey to make the dish sweeter or less sweet.
- Garnishing with parsley adds freshness and color to the dish.
Keywords: Syrian chicken recipe, Middle Eastern chicken, honey chicken, spiced chicken stew, chicken with currants, traditional Syrian dish
