I love meals that are balanced and have a portion of carbs, salad, meat, and a hefty drizzle of sauce, like this halal cart-style chicken and rice bowl. The delightful combination of tender spiced chicken, fluffy rice, and vibrant vegetables creates a harmony that is not only satisfying but also visually appealing. This bowl makes a perfect weekday meal or a party food if you want to serve a crowd. Simply have everything ready and let your family and friends make their own bowl, customizing their choices with various toppings and extra flavors.
What goes into halal cart style chicken and rice with white sauce
Chicken
A well-seasoned protein is the first thing you need. I like to use chicken thighs cut into strips and marinated with the spices generously, then cooked on high heat until charred and flavorful. You can also use chicken breasts or a combination of both. I only marinated the chicken for 10-15 minutes while I was working on making rice, sauce, and cutting vegetables, but you can marinate it in advance and leave it in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Take it out 30 minutes before cooking.
Rice
Rice makes the base of this dish; I usually make my 15-minute instant pot yellow rice. So quick and easy. You can also use a rice cooker if you want. In this recipe, however, I made rice on the stovetop. A simple rule to remember is 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You can add any seasonings; I used salt, turmeric, and some oil.
Salad/ Vegetables
Freshly cut cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes, and lettuce with a squeeze of lemon or lime and seasoned with salt and pepper is all you need. Cut the veggies into small sizes for an easy and enjoyable experience.
White Sauce recipe
You can’t forget about the star of the show; you guessed it right, the white sauce. To make this creamy sauce, you need mayonnaise, yogurt, minced garlic, vinegar, salt, and pepper with a hint of lemon juice. Mix it well and let it sit in the refrigerator for 24 hours. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it becomes, but I don’t recommend storing it for more than a week. You can also use it right away if you are impatient like me.
How to assemble the halal cart style chicken and rice bowl
Add a generous lawyer of yellow rice at the bottom, then cooked chicken, add salad and drizzle the white sauce. If you like spicy like me then use some sriracha sauce to heat up the dish. You don’t need any other side dishes but if you want to host a big gathering you might want to look at resturant style chicken karahi, dubai chocolate style dates as an appetizer, and easy fried chicken to make it a feast.
How to store leftovers
Keep the extra rice, chicken, and salad in separate containers and store them in the refrigerator for a few days. Reheat and assemble as needed. This chicken and rice bowl makes a delicious meal for the weekdays, especially if you like to meal prep.
Halal cart style chicken and rice
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken
Ingredients for chicken marination
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/3 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder or fresh garlic
- 1 tbsp lemon or lime juice
- 2 tbsp oil
Ingredients for sauce
- 3/4 cup yogurt
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Ingredients for yellow rice
- 1 cup rice
- 2 cups water amount vary according to cooking method
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp oil
Other ingredient
- 1 cup Lettuce
- 2 medium Tomatoes
- 1 small red onion or any other veggies of your choice
Instructions
Marinate the chicken
- First of all cut chicken into 1.5-inch cubes and marinate with all the ingredients mentioned for the chicken marination. Set it aside
Cook rice
- In a pan, add rice and rinse several times until water runs clear. Add 2 cups of water per 1 cup of rice, turmeric, salt and oil. Cook on high heat until it comes to a boil. Now change the heat to medium until most of the water dries out. Then lower the heat to the lowest settings. Cover the pot with a kitchen towel and lid and let it steam for 7-8 minutes.
- Wash and cut your veggies, I used lettuce, red onions, and tomatoes. You can use any vegetables of your choice.
Make white sauce
- In a bowl mix all of the ingredients of white suace and leave it in the fridge until ready to use.
Cook chicken
- Now heat a pan and add 1 tsp of oil to it, cook chicken on high heat for 5-6 minutes, once cooked from one side move to the other side to cook. You want to get a little char on the chicken.
Assemble rice bowl
- Now everything is ready, in a serving bowl, add a layer of rice, then vegetables and then chicken. Drizzle white sauce generously right before serving. Add hot sauce if you like spicy.
- Enjoy