Inspired by NYC, this halal cart chicken and rice recipe is packed with so many great flavors. The chicken is seasoned with warm spices and served on yellow rice with a tasty white sauce.

 

Street food is loved by everyone no matter where you’re from. From chicken shawarma and doner kebab to kumpir and arayes, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean street food is known for its bright flavors. Halal cart chicken and rice is no exception and has been a staple of NYC street food scene for a long time. I have replicated the recipe for you to try and enjoy at home!

This recipe is sponsored by Farmer Focus. All opinions are mine, as always.

All About Halal Cart Chicken

If you’ve walked around New York City, you’ve definitely seen food carts selling “chicken over rice.” These carts were originally started by Egyptian immigrants and quickly became popular for their chicken and rice dish. The star of the show? The famous white sauce.

Over the years, more and more carts around NYC started selling chicken and rice and many of them might not be halal anymore, which refers to the specific method of meat preparation approved by Islamic law. The recipe I’m sharing with you today uses Farmer Focus chicken, which is halal, Certified Humane, and USDA Organic.

Farmer Focus never uses antibiotics and their products are non-GMO. Moreover, they are 100% traceable back to the farm! The farm ID on each package represents the farmer who raised that chicken and you can go back and find their farm’s webpage to meet them. Check out Farmer Focus’s FAQ page for learn more about them and what they represent.

The Anatomy of Halal Cart Chicken And Rice

• Chicken: The chicken is seasoned with warm spices and then seared in a cast iron skillet or griddle.
• Rice: The rice is toasted with turmeric and cumin then cooked until tender and fluffy.
• Salad: A simple salad usually made with lettuce and tomatoes.
• White sauce: The legendary and famous white sauce that everyone raves about. It’s creamy, slightly sweet and tangy and it complements the whole dish very well.

What Do You Need To Make Halal Cart Chicken?

• Chicken: I prefer to use Farmer Focus boneless skinless chicken thighs. They are tender, juicy and absorb the flavors of the marinade very well. Farmer Focus is halal certified, humane, and organic. One thing that I love about this product is that you can actually meet your famer! Check out the store locator to find a store near you.
• Spices: You’ll need a combination of turmeric, cumin, coriander, paprika, all spice, salt and pepper as well as a tiny bit of sugar for the white sauce.
• Lemon: To add some freshness and bright flavor!
• Olive oil: To marinate the chicken and toast the rice.
• Garlic: Just a few cloves for flavor, make sure not to overuse it.
• Rice: Long grain rice such as basmati works best for this recipe.
• Mayonnaise: You can use regular mayonnaise or olive oil based mayonnaise to make the white sauce.
• Yogurt: I like using whole milk yogurt, but you can also use low-fat.
• Vinegar: To balance the flavors of the white sauce and add that little bit of tang.

How To Make Halal Cart Chicken and Rice

Prepare The Chicken

1. Slice the chicken thighs into bite size pieces and place it in a large bowl.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, then season with minced garlic, paprika, coriander, cumin, all spice, salt and pepper. Toss the chicken and make sure all pieces are coated with the marinade. Let the chicken marinate for at least 1 hour up to 6 hours.
3. When ready to cook, heat a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Once the pan is hot, sear the chicken in batches. It takes about 5 minutes to cook each batch. Make sure not overcrowd the pan so the pieces get caramelized on the edges.

Cook The Rice

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium high heat. Sauté the onion in olive oil for 5 minutes until translucent. Add in the rice followed by the turmeric, cumin and salt.
2. Add the water and bring it to a boil. Then lower the heat and cover with the lid. Cook for 20 minutes. Turn the heat off and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then fluff with a fork.

Make The White Sauce

1. Place the mayonnaise, yogurt, garlic, vinegar, salt and sugar in a bowl or a jar.
2. Mix so all the ingredients are well combined.

Assemble

To assemble halal cart chicken and rice, fill part of the plate with lettuce and tomatoes. Then add the rice and top with seared chicken. Finally, drizzle the white sauce all over the chicken and rice.

Storage and Reheating

Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. You can reheat this dish in the microwave or in a pan over medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Frequently asked questions

More Street Food Classics

Mediterranean recipes

Easy Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

Turkish Recipes

Kumpir (Turkish Stuffed Baked Potatoes)

Mediterranean recipes

Beef Shawarma

Greek Recipes

Greek Chicken Gyro

Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!