Rfissa (Moroccan Chicken With Lentils)

"This dish is made on special occasions in Morocco. It is served in one communal dish & everyone eats out of it with their right hand (no utensils). It is time consuming to make but it is much easier if you have a second pair of hands to help. (Smen is a special kind of rancid butter mixed with spices that is used to flavor tagines & other dishes in Morocco. It can be purchased online.)"
 
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photo by FDADELKARIM photo by FDADELKARIM
photo by FDADELKARIM
photo by FDADELKARIM photo by FDADELKARIM
Ready In:
1hr 30mins
Ingredients:
25
Serves:
6-8
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ingredients

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directions

  • Wash the chicken & marinate it in a mixture of grated onion, olive oil, ginger, ras el hanout, salt, & pepper for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.
  • Note: The m'semmen takes the longest to make & it should be started before cooking the chicken. I find it helpful to make 2 smaller batches instead of 1 large one. One to make before cooking the chicken & the other to make while the chicken is cooking.
  • M'semmen: In a large bowl mix 2 1/2 cups of flour with 1 tsp salt & 1 tsp sugar. Add enough lukewarm water to the mixture to form a stiff dough. (Flours differ in their ability to absorb moisture so no precise amount can be given. Add a small amount at a time. If you have added too much the mixture will be extra sticky and it will be hard to get off your hands, add a little more flour. The right consistency should allow the dough to pull easily off your fingers).
  • Knead the mixture for 5 minutes until it forms a smooth dough. Pull the dough apart into golf ball size balls, around 12-15. Pour 1 tablespoon of oil onto a large pizza pan. Lightly roll each ball in the oil then place back into the bowl (this helps insure the balls do not dry out).
  • Note: The next steps is where you really should have 2 people. One to form the m'semmen & one to cook it.
  • Person 1: Make sure your hands & the pizza pan are well oiled (you will have to keep adding more oil for each ball). Take one ball & gently spread it out with your oiled fingertips stretching the dough in all directions until it is very thin. (It should be thin like paper but you don't want it to pull apart).
  • Person 2: Drizzle a small amount of oil in a large frying pan with your finger tips. Heat the pan over medium heat until it gets hot. Lay one sheet of m'semmen in the pan & cook on each side until it has golden spots.
  • Repeat the previous 2 steps until each ball has been cooked. Place the m'semmen on a plate to be used later.
  • In a 8 or 10 quart pressure cooker place 4 cups of water, onion strips, parsley, spices (except the fenugreek), oil, & chicken. Simmer, uncovered, on medium heat for 10 minutes. After that time turn the chicken over & simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes more. (You may use a regular pot if you don't have a pressure cooker. The cook times here are the same).
  • While the chicken is simmering start your second batch of m'semmen, repeating all the steps for it. You should end up with around 25 sheets of m'semmen in all.
  • After the chicken is done simmering add the lentils, smen, fenugreek & another cup of water to the bottom of the pressure cooker. Make sure the chicken is breast side down. Seal with the lid & cook for 10-15 minutes more, after it begins to hiss. It is ready when the chicken & lentils are tender. (If using a regular pot the cook time is longer, around 30-40 minutes).
  • Take all the m'semmen sheets & shred them into 1 inch pieces. Place them in the top of a couscoussier or steamer. Steam them until they are limp & warm.
  • Scatter a thin layer of shredded m'semmen in the bottom of a large deep platter. Place the chicken in the middle of the platter. Litter the rest of the m'semmen around the chicken. Pour a generous amount of lentils & sauce over the chicken & m'semmen. Put any extra sauce into a bowl with a ladle to be used to dish up additional sauce while eating.

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Reviews

  1. Made this after an associate from Sudan told me about the dish. Not difficult to make at all, although I would suggest 2 people to make the Msemmen. Brought it into work and it was an absolute hit. My associate from Sudan was completely surprised. I've been asked to make it several times since. Also, I've made the sauce a couple times as a standalone dish and served it with msemmen. I've done it with chicken stock and vegetable stock (for the vegans in my group) instead of water. Also very delicious. Thank you for sharing this great recipe.
     
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Follower of Jesus: I have a strong faith in God & his love for all of us. He is the first & last in my life and it is my desire to tell others of His greatest gift to us...His Son. Explorer: I love to learn about new cultures & try new foods. While in Morocco I learned to appreciate the use of spices. Wife: I'm married to my best friend. Sister: I am the oldest of six children. Mother: My son lives in CA while my daughter lives close to me. Grandmother: My beautiful granddaughter has stolen my heart.
 
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