If you’re in the mood for a complete, comforting, and utterly delicious family meal, this recipe for Turkish Chicken & Rice (Tavuk Kapama) will hit all the right notes. Paired with tomato soup, dinner rolls, and a refreshing shepherd salad, this meal showcases the best of Turkish cuisine and is perfect for any occasion. Let’s dive into the details of each dish, and I’ll show you how easy it is to bring this delightful feast to your table with minimal effort.
First I prepared the dinner rolls since it takes time to rise and shape. By the time after the second rise it was ready to pop to the oven along with the chicken kapama to bake together 😊
THE DINNER ROLLS:
Ingredients For Easy Dinner Rolls
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 20gr fresh yeast (or active dry yeast if preferred)
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-2 cups siyez wheat flour (optional, for extra flavor)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp salt
These dinner rolls are very easy to make and can be good company also for breakfast.
- Start by making the simple yeast dough for the dinner rolls. In a mixing bowl, combine lukewarm water, milk, sugar and 20g fresh yeast (or use active dry yeast)
- Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to activate the yeast. Then, add all-purpose flour, siyez or wheat flour (optional for added flavor), olive oil and salt. Always add the last 1/2 to 1 cup flour gradually since the amount the flour can take water can change depending on the type.
- Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic. Cover and let it rise until doubled. Shape the dough into small balls.
- Place them on a greased baking tray or in a round non-stick pan with some space between them, so they can touch slightly when rise and remain soft as they bake. Allow them to rest and rise for about 30-45 minutes. If you’re short on time, you can place them in a warm oven preheated to 70°C (158°F) for faster rising.
- Preheat the oven to 200C. Brush the tops op the bread rolls with water and bake until golden for about 25 minutes.
TAVUK KAPAMA (Chicken Kapama)
For the Tavuk Kapama (Turkish Chicken and Rice), use a whole chicken (excluding the breast) for a more flavorful broth. Cut the chicken into parts if desired (or simply use chicken drumsticks.).
Ingredients For Turkish Chicken & Rice (Tavuk Kapama) Menu
- 1 whole chicken (excluding the breast) or 7-8 drumsticks
- 1 medium onion, quarter
- 2-3 bay leaves
- 1 tsp peppercorns
- Salt to taste
- Place the chicken pieces in a pressure cooker or a regular pot with water, adding 2-3 bay leaves, peppercorns, onion, quartered, and salt to taste
- Cook the chicken for about 15 minutes on medium pressure in a pressure cooker, or simmer it in a regular pot until the chicken is tender. Let the pressure cooker naturally release.
- Take out the chicken pieces from the broth and set aside to use in the chicken kapama dish. We will also be using the broth for the rice.
Preparing the Rice:
Ingredients:
- 2+1/2 cups rice, soaked in warm salty water for 30 minutes to 2 hours
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1+1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3+3/4 cups chicken broth or mix of water and broth
Soak 1 cup of rice in warm salty water for at least 30 minutes to 2 hours for a fluffy texture.
Heat a pan and sauté 1 diced onion in a mix of vegetable oil and olive oil. After a couple of minutes, add the soaked and drained rice to the pan and stir it for a few minutes. Season the rice with:
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
Add 2 tbsp of butter and stir until it melts. Transfer the rice to your baking dish, and then arrange the cooked chicken pieces on top, skin side up.
Baking the Turkish Chicken & Rice (Tavuk Kapama):
For every cup of rice, you’ll need 1 and 1/2 cups of chicken broth. Since we’re using 2 and 1/2 cups of rice in this recipe, add 3 and 3/4 cups of the chicken broth to the rice and chicken in the baking dish.
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and bake the chicken and rice for about 30-35 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the chicken is beautifully browned and tender.
“Domatesli Şehriye Çorbası” Tomato Orzo Soup:
Ingredients For Tomato Vermicelli Soup:
- 1+1/2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 large tomato, grated (or up to 3 if you preferred a more tomato-heavy soup)
- 1 liter chicken broth
- 1 cup vermicelli pasta (or orzo pasta)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup chopped parsley (optional, for the garnish)
For the tomato soup, start by sautéing 2 tbsp of tomato paste in a bit of vegetable and olive oil. Add 1 grated tomato (or up to 3, depending on how tomato-heavy you like your soup). After the tomatoes break down into a sauce, add the leftover chicken broth from the Tavuk Kapama recipe and more water if needed. Season with salt and black pepper.
Add 1 cup of vermicelli or orzo pasta and cook until the pasta is soft. Turn off the heat and let the soup rest for about 10-15 minutes. As a final touch, add a handful of chopped parsley for freshness.
Shepherd Salad:
Ingredients For Shepherd Salad:
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1 green pepper, chopped 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt to taste
- Optional: Sumac or pomegranate molasses for extra flavor
To complete the meal, prepare a fresh shepherd salad by slicing 1 cucumber, 2 tomatoes, and 1 green pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, and season with salt to taste. If you want to elevate the flavor also you can also add a sprinkle of sumac or drizzle pomegranate molasses over the top.
Serving Turkish Chicken & Rice (Tavuk Kapama):
Once everything is ready, serve up the Tavuk Kapama on a platter with the tomato soup and freshly baked dinner rolls on the side. Pair it with a vibrant shepherd salad for a complete Turkish feast that’s both satisfying and delicious.
This meal not only showcases the heart of Turkish cuisine. It is also brings together the essence of comfort and flavor. Perfect for family gatherings, special occasions, or any day you want to enjoy a home-cooked meal filled with love and tradition.
Enjoy your cooking, and don’t forget to let me know how it turned out!
Don’t forget to check at these Chicken Recipes on my website:
- Chicken & Rice / 2 Turkish Ways
- Easiest Roasted Chicken With Vegetables
- Chicken Shish Kebab Easy Homemade Recipe
- Turkish Style Chicken Yakhni With Vegetables
Turkish Chicken & Rice (Tavuk Kapama) Menu
Ingredients
For the Turkish Chicken & Rice (Tavuk Kapama):
- 1 whole chicken excluding the breast or 7-8 drumsticks
- 1 medium onion quarter
- 2-3 bay leaves
- 1 tsp peppercorns
- Salt to taste
Rice:
- 2+1/2 cups rice soaked in warm salty water for 30 minutes to 2 hours
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1+1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3+3/4 cups chicken broth or mix of water and broth
Yeast Rolls:
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 20 gr fresh yeast or active dry yeast if preferred
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-2 cups siyez wheat flour optional, for extra flavor
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Tomato Vermicelli Soup:
- 1+1/2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 large tomato grated (or up to 3 if you preferred a more tomato-heavy soup)
- 1 liter chicken broth
- 1 cup vermicelli pasta or orzo pasta
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 handful chopped parsley optional, for the garnish
Shepherd Salad:
- 1 medium size cucumber sliced
- 2 big tomatoes chopped
- 1 green pepper chopped 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Dinner rolls are very easy to make
- In a mixing bowl, combine water, milk, sugar, yeast
- Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to activate the yeast. Then, add:
- all-purpose flour, siyez or whole what flour, olive oil, salt
- Always add the last 1/2 to 1 cup flour gradually since the amount the flour can take water can change depending on the type.
- Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic. Cover and let it rise until doubled. Shape the dough into small balls.
- Place them on a greased baking tray or in a round non-stick pan with some space between them, so they can rise and remain soft as they bake. Allow them to rest and rise for about 30-45 minutes. If you’re short on time, you can place them in a warm oven preheated to 70°C (158°F) for faster rising.
- Preheat the oven to 200C. Brush the tops op the bread rolls with water and bake until golden for about 25 minutes.
TAVUK KAPAMA (Chicken Kapama)
- For the Tavuk Kapama (Turkish Chicken and Rice), use a whole chicken (excluding the breast) for a more flavorful broth. Cut the chicken into parts if desired (or simply use chicken drumsticks.).
- Place the chicken pieces in a pressure cooker or a regular pot with water, adding:
- 2-3 bay leaves, 1 tsp peppercorns, 1 onion, quartered, Salt to taste
- Cook the chicken for about 15 minutes on medium pressure in a pressure cooker, or simmer it in a regular pot until the chicken is tender. Let the pressure cooker naturally release.
- Take out the chicken pieces from the broth and set aside to use in the chicken kapama dish. We will also be using the broth for the rice.
Preparing the Rice:
- Soak 1 cup of rice in warm salty water for at least 30 minutes to 2 hours for a fluffy texture.
- Heat a pan and sauté 1 diced onion in a mix of vegetable oil and olive oil. After a couple of minutes, add the soaked and drained rice to the pan and stir it for a few minutes. Season the rice with:
- black pepper, all spice, sugar and salt
- Add 2 tbsp of butter and stir until it melts. Transfer the rice to your baking dish, and then arrange the cooked chicken pieces on top, skin side up.
- Baking the Turkish Chicken & Rice (Tavuk Kapama):
- For every cup of rice, you’ll need 1 and 1/2 cups of chicken broth. Since we’re using 2 and 1/2 cups of rice in this recipe, add 3 and 3/4 cups of the chicken broth to the rice and chicken in the baking dish.
- Assembling Tavuk Chicken Kapama
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and bake the chicken and rice for about 30-35 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the chicken is beautifully browned and tender.
“Domatesli Şehriye Çorbası” Tomato Orzo Soup:
- For the tomato soup, start by sautéing 2 tbsp of tomato paste in a bit of vegetable and olive oil. Add 1 grated tomato (or up to 3, depending on how tomato-heavy you like your soup).
- After the tomatoes break down into a sauce, add the leftover chicken broth from the Tavuk Kapama recipe and more water if needed. Season with salt and black pepper.
- Add 1 cup of vermicelli or orzo pasta and cook until the pasta is soft. Turn off the heat and let the soup rest for about 10-15 minutes. As a final touch, add a handful of chopped parsley for freshness.
Shepherd Salad:
- To complete the meal, prepare a fresh shepherd salad by slicing 1 cucumber, 2 tomatoes, and 1 green pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, and season with salt to taste. If you want to elevate the flavor also you can also add a sprinkle of sumac or drizzle pomegranate molasses over the top.
