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    Home » Recipes » Main Dish

    Lebanese Chicken and Rice (Riz a Djej)

    By Mariam・Published: Dec 1, 2021・Updated: Nov 1, 2023・Post may have affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Lebanese chicken and rice, aka riz a djej, is a Middle Eastern chicken dish made with shredded chicken, homemade chicken stock, rice, aromatic spices, minced meat, and toasted nuts. This classic dish is often at the center of the table on holidays, special occasions, and celebrations.

    oriental rice and chicken on a plate

    For more hearty recipes, try bazella, kibbeh, or warak enab (grape leaves).

    What I Love About This Recipe

    I am obsessed with how the flavors and textures blend in this chicken and rice recipe. There is something about it that is so full of comfort and warmth. In my family, we make this chicken and rice dish part of a meal planning menu because we can't go too long without having it! Yes, it's that good, and I am so excited to share it with you.

    Ingredient Notes

    riz a djej ingredients
    • Whole chicken: It's important to use a whole chicken because the homemade chicken stock is used to make the most flavorful rice. Alternatively, you can boil chicken breasts, however the chicken stock won't taste the same as using a whole chicken. I recommend using a chicken between 3 and 4 lbs in size.
    • Ground meat: Yes, there are two sources of protein here. Some people prefer to make this with either chicken or meat but this version is my personal favorite. I recommed using ground beef or ground lamb.
    • Long grain rice: You can use any kind of long grain rice. However, don't mix long grain rice up with short grain rice because it tends to clump together.
    • Onion: Use onion for the meat and rice mixture and for boiling the chicken.
    • Blend of spices: A blend of fragrant Lebanese spices including, allspice, seven spice mix, cinnamon, white pepper, and nutmeg.
    • Bay leaves: To add to the stock water as you boil the chicken.
    • Cinnamon stick: Use a cinnamon stick for the chicken stock.
    • Toasted nuts: Choose from using almond slivers, halved almonds, cashew nuts, or pine nuts to top the dish.
    • Salt to taste

    See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.

    How To Make Lebanese Chicken and Rice

    Add a whole chicken, peeled whole onion, salt, pepper, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and about 10 cups of water to a large stovetop pot. Boil the whole chicken on medium to medium high heat covered for about 1.5 hours or until the chicken meat is tender.

    The cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and onion add fragrance to the stock. While the chicken is boiling, in a large saucepan on medium heat, melt the butter. Toast the nuts until they turn a golden brown.

    Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the heat. Separate the whole chicken from the chicken stock. Make sure to save the chicken stock because it will be used for cooking the rice.

    Wait for the chicken to cool down. Shred the chicken meat and set it aside. Wash the rice and drain it really well.

    washing the rice with water

    Add some olive oil to a non-stick pan then sauté the chopped onions and minced meat. Add in the spices, salt, and rinsed rice. Cook everything together for a few minutes.

    rice mixed with beef in a stovetop pot

    Next, top the rice and meat mixture with the saved chicken stock. For every 1 cup of rice, add 2 cups of chicken stock.

    add chicken broth to the rice

    Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the stove to low heat and cover. Continue cooking on low heat until the rice is done (about 8 to 10 minutes).

    Once the rice is done, we're going to start working on serving this dish up.

    close up view of ground beef and rice

    In a bowl that's not too heavy (because we're going to flip it over), add the chicken and spoon the rice mixture on top. Do this twice so that you get two layers of each.

    ground beef with rice on a spoon

    Once you're done layering, flip the bowl onto a large platter.

    turning the chicken and rice over

    Top the shredded chicken with the toasted nuts and serve!

    oriental chicken and rice with toasted blanched almonds

    Serve with plain yogurt.

    Tips and Tricks

    The secret is in the stock: I always use homemade stock to make oriental chicken and rice. Focus on adding fragrance to it by cooking the chicken in water infused with Lebanese spices, a whole onion, cinnamon sticks, and bay leaves.

    Push the rice/chicken layers down with a spoon before flipping: The most difficult part of this recipe is when you flip it over onto a tray. What helps to get this right is to push down the rice mixture after spooning it into a bowl.

    If you're short on time: Cook the chicken on a separate day and save its stock. You can freeze both and take them out a day before making them. The same can be done with the minced meat, onion, and spice mixture.

    Variations and Substitutions

    • Either/or oriental chicken and rice: In this version, you can opt to do without either the chicken or the meat.
    • Veggie chicken: I know a lot of people who make chicken rice with vegetables in it like peas, carrots, and chopped sweet peppers.
    • Substitute chicken breast or chicken thighs instead of a whole chicken.
    • Use brown rice instead of white rice.

    Equipment

    • A large pot to boil the chicken in
    • A deep sauté pan to cook the meat, onion, and rice mixture
    • A ladle to spoon the stock in
    • A bowl to layer the chicken and rice in before flipping
    • A tray or serving platter for the mixture to be flipped on

    Storage

    This Lebanese chicken and rice dish freezes well for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Store this dish in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat in a microwave-safe dish or plate.

    FAQs

    Is Lebanese rice and chicken the same as Lebanese ouzi?


    No! Despite the fact that both are rice-based dishes, ouzi is a rice mixture stuffed inside filo dough that is then baked in the oven.

    Can I serve this dish without flipping it over?


    The answer is yes! A lot of people serve this straight from the pot. Spoon the rice mixture on your plate, and then add chicken and nuts on top of the rice. Flipping the dish over is often done when there's an occasion or when you need to place the dish on a dinner table.

    What is oriental rice and chicken served with?

    This dish is always served alongside a cup of yogurt or Lebanese cucumber salad.

    Lebanese Cuisine

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    Subscribe to The Matbakh Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest pages. We also have a saucy newsletter.

    📋 Recipe

    riz w djej on a plate

    Lebanese Chicken and Rice (Riz a Djej)

    Author: Mariam
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Levantine
    Prep: 1 hour hr
    Cook: 1 hour hr
    Total: 2 hours hrs
    4.30 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Servings 6
    Lebanese chicken and rice, aka riz a djej, is a delicious dish made with shredded chicken, rice, minced meat, spices, and toasted nuts.

    Ingredients
     
    US Customary - Metric

    • 1 whole chicken about 3 to 4 lbs in size (about 1.5 kg)
    • 0.5 lbs minced ground beef or lamb
    • 2 medium onions 1 chopped and used in the meat mixture, 1 whole used in boiling the chicken
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 2 cinnamon sticks
    • 2 cups long-grain rice washed and drained
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter for the rice
    • 1 tablespoon butter for toasting the nuts
    • 1 teaspoon allspice
    • 1 teaspoon Lebanese 7 spices
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • ½ teaspoon white or black pepper
    • 1 cup mixed raw nuts almonds, pine nuts, cashews

    Instructions

    • Boil the whole chicken in 10 cups of water in a stovetop pot on medium to medium-high heat for about 1.5 hours covered. Add a whole peeled onion, salt, pepper, two cinnamon sticks, and two bay leaves to the boiling chicken.
    • While the chicken is cooking, on medium heat add 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan and toast the nuts in a skillet until they turn golden brown. 
    • Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the heat, wait for it to cool down then shred and set aside (save the stock). 
    • Wash the rice and make sure you drain it really well. 
    • Add some oil to a non-stick pan and sauté the chopped onions and minced meat. 
    • Mix in the allspice, seven spices, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, salt, and rice. Cook everything together for a minute. Add 4 cups of the saved chicken stock to the rice mixture. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook until the rice is done (about 8 to 10 minutes). 
    • Once the rice is done, add a layer of shredded chicken into a bowl and spoon half the rice mixture on top. Repeat this process once.
    • Push the mixture down into the bowl using a spoon.
    • Flip over onto a tray and top with the toasted nuts. 

    Equipment

    Large Pot
    mercer cutting knife.
    Chef's Knife
    acacia wood cutting board.
    Cutting Board
    knife sharpener.
    Knife Sharpener
    magnetic knife block.
    Magnetic Knife Block
    frying pan.
    Frying Pan

    Notes

    1. If using long grain rice, add 2 parts chicken broth to 1 part rice. For this recipe, it will be 4 cups chicken broth to 2 cups rice.
    2. If using medium grain rice, add 1.5 parts chicken broth to 1 part rice. For this recipe, it will be 3 cups chicken broth to 2 cups rice.
    3. Serve hot with a cup of yogurt. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 /6 dish | Calories: 544 kcal | Carbohydrates: 46 g | Protein: 43 g | Fat: 22 g | Saturated Fat: 4 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 18 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 166 mg | Sodium: 855 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 3 g

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    About Mariam

    I am Mariam Nabbout, a writer and content creator. I’ve spent years dedicating research, digital, and filmmaking skills to come up with content that's just as meaningful as it is inspiring. A few of my obsessions include good branding, films, photography, design, art, and of course, food.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.30 from 10 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lina

      June 09, 2022 at 12:14 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious the first time and making it again. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Lily

        June 09, 2022 at 12:15 pm

        Thanks for the comment!

        Reply
        • Lea

          November 22, 2022 at 7:43 pm

          Hello, can I freeze the riz bi lahme? And if yes, for how long will it still be good in the freezer?

        • Lily

          November 22, 2022 at 7:54 pm

          Great question- you can freeze the cooked riz bi lahme for up to 3 months in the freezer in an airtight container.

    2. Suzy

      April 24, 2022 at 8:00 am

      5 stars
      Delicious

      Reply
    3. Yoyo

      April 24, 2022 at 1:41 am

      3 stars
      I rather pine nuts how mum used to make it. So yummy!

      Reply
    4. Zeina

      December 19, 2021 at 6:09 pm

      5 stars
      We made this a few days ago and the combination of spices and nuts and chicken were delicious. We used ground lamb instead of minced beef, and all around enjoyed this. Also used blanched halved almonds and fried them in ghee a bit to brown.

      Reply
      • Lily

        December 19, 2021 at 6:15 pm

        Wonderful! Thanks for the comment

        Reply

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    I'm an American Lebanese living in Texas. My kitchen, or matbakh, is a hodgepodge of recipes from the U.S. and Mediterranean region.

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