Lemon-Sumac Chicken (Levantine)
Skin-on chicken thighs glazed with lemon, garlic, and a bright sprinkle of sumac.
Ingredients
- 600 g Chicken thighs
- 2 Lemon
- 6 cloves Garlic
- 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Ground coriander
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Black pepper
- 1 tbsp Sumac
- 3 tbsp Parsley (optional)
- 1 Onion (optional)
Method
- Pat the chicken thighs dry. Mince the garlic, then zest and juice the lemons.
- In a bowl, combine some of the olive oil with the garlic, lemon zest, most of the lemon juice, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper, then turn the chicken through it to coat.
- If using, thinly slice the onion and toss with a pinch of salt and a squeeze of the reserved lemon juice to quick-pickle. (optional)
- Heat the remaining olive oil in a wide pan over medium-high. Sear the chicken skin-side down until crisp and deep golden, about 8 minutes, then flip and cook through, about 5 minutes more.
- Plate the chicken. Scatter the sumac, parsley, and the pickled onions over the top if you made them.
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About Lemon-Sumac Chicken (Levantine)
This Levantine lemon-sumac chicken takes skin-on thighs and dresses them in the bright, tangy flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean: lemon, garlic, cumin and coriander, finished with a distinctive sprinkle of sumac. Sumac is a deep-red ground berry used across Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian cooking, and its tart, almost cranberry-like sourness is what gives the dish its signature lift, echoing and sharpening the lemon underneath. The chicken tastes savory and citrusy with a warm spice backbone, and the thighs stay juicy where a leaner cut might dry out.
The key technique is patience with the skin. Searing the thighs skin-side down until crisp and deep golden before flipping renders the fat and builds real texture, so you get shatteringly crisp skin over tender meat rather than anything flabby. An optional quick-pickle of thin onion in reserved lemon juice adds a sharp, raw counterpoint, and a final flourish of parsley and more sumac keeps everything fresh. High in protein and low in carbs, it's a thirty-minute main that pairs naturally with rice, flatbread, or a simple salad and a spoon of yogurt or tahini.
Lemon-Sumac Chicken (Levantine): frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Lemon-Sumac Chicken (Levantine)?
A serving has about 624 calories — 35.2g protein, 12.6g carbs, 48.3g fat, 4.1g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 35.2g of protein, roughly 23% of its calories.
Is Lemon-Sumac Chicken (Levantine) gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Lemon-Sumac Chicken (Levantine) has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Lemon-Sumac Chicken (Levantine) take to make?
About 30 minutes start to finish, but only around 23 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Lemon-Sumac Chicken (Levantine)?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out parsley, onion — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Lemon-Sumac Chicken (Levantine) make?
This recipe makes 3 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.