Here is your FULL DETAIL RECIPE for
Zaatar Chicken Olive Rice with Whipped Feta
A fragrant Mediterranean-inspired dish with juicy za’atar-spiced chicken, buttery olive rice, and creamy whipped feta. A complete, gourmet-style meal in under 40 minutes!
⭐ FULL DETAIL RECIPE
🍗 INGREDIENTS
For the Za’atar Chicken
- 500g (1 lb) boneless chicken thighs or breasts
- 2 tbsp za’atar seasoning
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Juice of ½ lemon
For the Olive Rice
- 1 cup basmati or jasmine rice
- 2 cups chicken broth (or water)
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- ½ cup green or black olives, sliced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp oregano
- Salt to taste
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley or dill (optional)
For the Whipped Feta
- ½ cup feta cheese
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small garlic clove
- Juice of ¼ lemon
- Pinch of black pepper
👨🍳 STEP-BY-STEP COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
1️⃣ Marinate the Chicken
In a bowl, combine:
- Za’atar
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Salt & pepper
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
Coat chicken well.
Let rest 10–20 minutes (or overnight for deeper flavor).
2️⃣ Cook the Chicken
- Heat a skillet over medium-high.
- Add 1 tbsp oil.
- Cook chicken 5–6 minutes per side (thighs may take 1–2 mins more).
- Chicken should be golden and fragrant with toasted za’atar aroma.
- Remove and rest, then slice.
3️⃣ Prepare the Olive Rice
- In the same skillet, add a little oil (if needed).
- Sauté onions for 2 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Add olives, cumin, oregano, and rice. Stir to coat with oil and spices.
- Add broth and salt.
- Bring to boil, then reduce heat, cover, and cook 15 minutes.
- Turn off heat and let rest 5 minutes.
- Fluff with fork and stir in parsley.
4️⃣ Make the Whipped Feta
Blend or whip together:
- Feta
- Greek yogurt
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Pepper
Blend until smooth, creamy, and spreadable.
5️⃣ Assemble the Dish
- Add a generous spoon of whipped feta to plate.
- Top with a scoop of fluffy olive rice.
- Add sliced za’atar chicken.
- Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle extra za’atar for finishing.
- Garnish with parsley or dill.
🍽️ HOW TO SERVE
Serve warm with:
- Lemon wedges
- Fresh cucumber-tomato salad
- Pita bread
- Pickled onions
💡 TIPS FOR BEST FLAVOR
- Use chicken thighs for juiciness.
- Toasting za’atar slightly in the pan gives a stronger aroma.
- Use good-quality feta—it affects the creaminess of the whipped topping.
- Add a spoon of tahini to the whipped feta for deeper Mediterranean flavor.
🔥 OPTIONAL ADD-ONS
- Add roasted vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, cherry tomatoes).
- Replace rice with couscous or quinoa.
- Add pomegranate seeds for a sweet-tart pop.
If you want, I can also create:
✅ A short caption for social media
✅ A printable recipe card
✅ A calorie/nutrition breakdown
Just tell me!
