Halal Cart-Type Hen Over Rice

This straightforward halal cart-style rooster over rice combines juicy, spice-rubbed rooster with fluffy yellow rice, drizzled with the long-lasting, creamy white sauce! I’ll present you the way to make it 100% from scratch.
You may additionally like my tandoori rooster rice bowls and this filling Mediterranean bowl recipe.

In case you’ve ever caught a whiff of smoky, scorching rooster on a road nook in NYC, you already KNOW at present’s recipe! We’re making juicy, seasoned halal cart rooster over rice, full with the well-known creamy white sauce. I’ve saved this do-it-yourself model straightforward, nevertheless it nonetheless has all of the genuine road cart flavors I bear in mind! This recipe may be meal-prepped, and making it from scratch means I can customise it in additional methods than one.
Selfmade Hen Over Rice That’s Even Higher Than Road Meals
- Genuine flavors. Halal carts in New York are a late-night favourite. I wished to maintain these road meals flavors in a do-it-yourself model that anybody could make of their kitchen.
- Minimal hands-on time. With simply quarter-hour of prep, I feel I did fairly properly right here! A lot of the magic occurs in your oven. These road food-style bowls are additionally an effective way to make use of up leftover rooster and rice.
- Excellent for meal prepping. The very best half about making this at house is that I used to be capable of scale up the recipe. Prepare dinner as soon as, and luxuriate in scrumptious rooster over rice all week lengthy.


What Is Halal Cart Hen?
Halal cart rooster is iconic New York Metropolis road meals made with spiced grilled rooster over rice with salad and white sauce. It’s so common, you’ll discover this rooster dish throughout the US, too (The Halal Guys is a sequence that began as meals carts). I don’t need to brag, however I feel this do-it-yourself rooster over rice may simply rival any restaurant or road cart!






Substances You’ll Want
A typical halal cart platter consists of rooster shawarma served over yellow rice with salad or contemporary greens, resembling lettuce and tomatoes, on the aspect. The crowning glory is a drizzle of bitter cream sauce. It seems, it’s straightforward to recreate it at house.
I’ve included notes on the elements for every element beneath. Scroll to the printable recipe card for the complete particulars, adopted by a step-by-step overview with photographs.
For the Hen
- Hen – I really like the juiciness and taste of boneless rooster thighs with the pores and skin nonetheless on. You can make this recipe with rooster breasts or bone-in rooster, too. Remember that the cooking occasions will differ.
- Olive Oil – Helps the rooster crisp up and provides the spice rub one thing to stick to. You may swap olive oil for any cooking oil you favor.
- Garlic – Freshly minced, or you may substitute ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder per contemporary clove.
- Spices – I make my shawarma-inspired rooster spice rub with dried oregano, coriander, cumin, turmeric, paprika, salt, and freshly floor black pepper.
For the Rice
- Butter – Salted or unsalted. Contemplate lowering the quantity of added salt within the recipe if you happen to’re utilizing salted butter.
- White Rice – Select a long-grain rice, like jasmine rice or basmati. You can additionally take a shortcut with quick-cooking instantaneous rice.
- Spices – Turmeric, cumin, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder (you may exchange garlic powder with onion and vice versa).
- Broth – Provides extra taste to the rice whereas it cooks. You should use vegetable or rooster broth, whichever you favor. I wish to prepare dinner with low-sodium broth.
White Sauce Substances
- Bitter Cream – You can substitute Greek or plain yogurt, or tahini if wanted.
- Lemon Juice – Recent or bottled is ok, since we’re solely utilizing a small quantity.
- Sugar – I exploit granulated sugar, however you might use one other sweetener, like honey, if you happen to’d like.
- Za’atar – Za’atar is an fragrant Center Japanese herb mix that features thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds. You’ll discover it in most grocery shops and spice aisles. I add a bit garlic powder in with my za’atar, however that’s elective.
- Milk – You’ll want simply sufficient to skinny out the sauce so it’s straightforward to drizzle. Any kind of dairy or plant-based milk works right here.


Recipe Ideas
- Use rooster thighs when you may. Hen thighs keep juicier than rooster breasts, they usually’re tougher to overcook. Be sure that to make use of halal-certified rooster as wanted.
- Chill the seasoned rooster within the fridge. Spice your rooster no less than 1 hour earlier than cooking and let it relaxation within the fridge. Identical to marinating, that is key to constructing taste.
- Examine that the rooster is cooked. Whether or not you’re utilizing thighs, breasts, or in any other case, rooster is finished when the inner temperature reads 165ºF on an instant-read meat thermometer.
- Use leftover rice. In case you have leftover cooked white rice within the fridge, merely stir within the butter, spices, and a splash of broth whereas it reheats. Bam! Halal cart rice that’s able to go.
Simple Meals Cart Toppings
High your rooster over rice with any of the next:
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomato
- Peeled and diced cucumber
- Pickled jalapeños or greens
Serving Options
When you’ve assembled your road cart rooster and rice bowls, tuck items of lavash bread or naan bread on the aspect, and luxuriate in! This cottage cheese flatbread additionally makes an incredible low-carb possibility. This rooster over rice is a meal in a single, or you may serve it with Mediterranean-inspired appetizers, like stuffed grape leaves.


Methods to Customise Your Hen Over Rice
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Prepare dinner the Hen
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Add the spice rub. In a medium bowl, mix the rooster thighs, olive oil, garlic, and all of the spices. Toss to coat the rooster on all sides with the oil and spices. Cowl with plastic wrap and chill within the fridge for 1 hour.
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Oven technique. Preheat your oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper. Place the rooster thighs on the baking sheet and bake for 35-45 minutes or till the rooster registers at 165ºF on an instant-read thermometer.
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Air fryer technique. You can additionally prepare dinner the rooster thighs within the air fryer. Begin by preheating the air fryer to 390ºF. Place the rooster thighs within the basket (no wire rack), pores and skin aspect down. Prepare dinner for 10 minutes, then flip and prepare dinner it pores and skin aspect up for 10-12 minutes extra. The rooster is finished when the pores and skin is crispy and the rooster registers at 165ºF with an instant-read thermometer.
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Cool and slice. Let the rooster cool for five minutes, then slice it into strips or bite-sized items.
Make the Rice
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When to make it. Do that whereas the rooster is cooking.
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Stovetop technique. Soften the butter in a medium pot over medium-low warmth. Stir within the rice to coat it with the butter. Add all of the remaining rice elements, stir properly. Deliver to a simmer, then cowl and prepare dinner for 15-20 minutes. The rice is finished when it is fluffy. Take away from the warmth and fluff the rice with a fork.
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Prompt pot technique. Flip the Prompt Pot on to sauté and soften the butter. Flip off the Prompt Pot and stir within the rice. Add all of the remaining rice elements to your Prompt Pot. Give it a great stir, then seal the lid and press the “rice” button.
Make the Bitter Cream Drizzle
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When to make it. Do that when the rooster and rice are virtually accomplished.
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Combine. In a medium bowl, mix the bitter cream sauce elements. Stir properly.
To Serve
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Layer every thing in a bowl and add toppings. Spoon the rice into particular person bowls and high with the sliced rooster. Add shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and diced cucumbers to the bowl. End with a beneficiant drizzle of the bitter cream sauce. Tuck some items of pita or naan bread into the aspect of the bowl and serve.
Energy: 667kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 25g | Fats: 36g | Saturated Fats: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 5g | Monounsaturated Fats: 16g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 1321mg | Potassium: 562mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 970IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 3mg
Dietary information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could differ in keeping with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
Methods to Make Halal Cart Hen Over Rice
In case you’re utilizing skin-on rooster thighs, take into account trimming away any extra pores and skin to maintain issues neat. Then, we’ll season the rooster and prepare dinner it following the instructions for my oven-baked rooster thighs. It will get the pores and skin good and crispy!
First, Prepare dinner the Hen




- Season the rooster. Mix the rooster thighs with the olive oil and spices, and toss to coat. I like to make use of my fingers to rub the seasoning in. Cowl and refrigerate the rooster for 1 hour.
- Bake the rooster. Afterward, bake the rooster on a lined baking sheet at 400ºF for 35-45 minutes.
- Cool. Cool the rooster for five minutes, then you may slice the rooster into strips, chunks, or go away it entire for serving.
Use the Air Fryer
Alternatively, you may prepare dinner the rooster utilizing my air fryer rooster thighs technique. Preheat the air fryer to 390ºF, and add the rooster to the ungreased basket, pores and skin aspect down. Prepare dinner for 10 minutes, flip, and prepare dinner for one more 10-12 minutes.
In the meantime, Make the Rice




- Prompt Pot. Soften butter on sauté mode, then swap off the Prompt Pot and stir within the rice and the remaining elements. Seal, then prepare dinner utilizing the “rice” setting.
- Stovetop. Or make it on the stovetop and soften the butter in a saucepan, stir within the rice and remaining elements over medium-low warmth. Deliver the pot to a simmer, cowl, and prepare dinner for 15-20 minutes. Then, take the rice off the warmth and fluff it with a fork.
Assemble and Serve




- Make the bitter cream sauce. When the rooster and rice are practically accomplished cooking, whisk the white sauce elements collectively in a bowl.
- Layer every thing in a bowl. Add your rice to bowls, high with the rooster, then add your lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, or any toppings you’d like. Lastly, give your rooster over rice a beneficiant drizzle of the bitter cream sauce and dig in!
Meal Prep and Storage Directions
- Refrigerate. Retailer your cooked rooster, rice, and bitter cream sauce in separate hermetic containers within the fridge.
- Meal prep your rooster and rice. Alternatively, assemble the rooster over rice in meal prep containers and preserve them within the fridge for simple, to-go lunches all through the week.
- Reheat. Heat the leftovers within the microwave or the oven till the rooster and rice are scorching all through.