Author Notes
This extremely simple dish, taught to me by an Armenian friend, is one of the best ways to turn chicken leftovers into something mind-blowing—although it would be totally worth poaching a whole chicken just to make this. Herbs, seasoned yogurt, barberries, toasted sunflower seeds, chicken, crispy top – I can’t think of anything better to eat on a Monday night. If you live alone, or like me with a small child, you can make a mini version using a smaller baking sheet.
Excerpted from Kaukasis: A Culinary Journey through Georgia, Azerbaijan & Beyond by Olia Herclues (Weldon Owen, 2017) —Olia Hercules
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Ingredients
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6 tablespoons
(3. oz/100 g) Homemade Matsoni (page 29) or plain yogur
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2
garlic cloves, grated
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pinch of saffron threads (optional)
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a pinch of cayenne pepper
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1 tablespoon
dried barberries or golden raisins
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1 cup
(7 oz/200 g) poached chicken meat, torn into chunks
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1 tablespoon
chopped green onions
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1 tablespoon
chopped cilantro
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1 tablespoon
chopped dill
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1 tablespoon
chopped tarragon
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sea salt flakes
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1/4 cup
(2 oz/50 g) unsalted butter, melted
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1 piece
Armenian or Persian lavash (or any other large, thin flatbread)
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1 tablespoon
sunflower seeds (or sesame, pumpkin, or linseed)
Directions
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To make a filling, mix the yogurt, garlic, saffron, cayenne, and barberries together, then add the chicken, green onions, and herbs. Season well with salt and set aside.
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a shallow 6 x 8–inch (15 x 20–cm) baking dish with some of the melted butter.
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Place one layer of lavash in the dish (tear it to fit), brush with melted butter, then spread the filling over. Cover with another layer of lavash. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with the seeds.
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Bake until the pie is heated through, the top is golden, and the seeds are toasted, 15 minutes.
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Tip In addition to being a perfect way in which to use up leftover cooked chicken, this is also a great way to use up stale flatbreads; because you cover them with butter and the filling is so moist, the flatbreads revive beautifully in the oven.
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