Moroccan Chermoula Grilled Chicken Flatbread with Preserved Lemon Yogurt and Harissa

Ingredients

• For the chermoula marinade:
• 1 lb boneless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, packed
• 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, packed
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp sweet smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• Pinch of cayenne
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• For preserved lemon yogurt:
• 1 cup thick Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp finely minced preserved lemon rind (rinsed, pith removed)
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• For serving:
• 4 flatbreads or pita
• 2 tbsp harissa paste
• 1/2 red onion, very thinly sliced
• Fresh cilantro, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes

Instructions

1. Make the chermoula: blend cilantro, parsley, garlic, cumin, paprika, coriander, turmeric, cayenne, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt in a food processor until a rough paste forms. It should be vivid green and intensely fragrant.
2. Coat the chicken thighs thoroughly with chermoula. Marinate at least 1 hour, or overnight in the refrigerator for maximum flavor penetration.
3. Make the preserved lemon yogurt: stir together yogurt, minced preserved lemon rind, grated garlic, and olive oil. Taste — it should be bright, tangy, and garlicky. Refrigerate until needed.
4. Grill the chicken: heat a grill pan or outdoor grill over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade (don't wipe off the herbs). Grill 5-6 minutes per side until charred at the edges and cooked through to 165°F. Rest 5 minutes, then slice.
5. Warm the flatbreads directly over a gas flame or in a dry cast-iron pan until puffed and charred in spots.
6. Spread each flatbread generously with preserved lemon yogurt. Dot with harissa paste — as much as you can handle.
7. Pile on sliced chermoula chicken, red onion, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and a big handful of fresh cilantro. Fold and eat immediately — the contrast of smoky herbed chicken, cool tangy yogurt, and fiery harissa is exactly what a Moroccan street lunch feels like.