Moroccan Rfissa with Chicken and Lentils

  • Total time - 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Preparation - 45 minutes
  • Cooking time - 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Servings: 6
  • Country: Morocco
A richly decorated bowl of Moroccan Rfissa with chicken, lentils, and thin strips of bread.

Rfissa is a dish that requires patience and love, but the result is truly unforgettable. Its uniqueness lies in the combination of different textures and flavors: tender, aromatic chicken, creamy lentils, a spicy onion sauce, and finally, sweet, buttery pieces of bread that soak up all the delicious sauce.

The key ingredient that gives Rfissa its characteristic taste is fenugreek. It is cooked with the lentils and chicken. If you don't have it, you can omit it, but you will miss the authentic flavor.

Ingredients

For the chicken sauce

  • 1 chicken, cut into 4 portions
  • 2 onion, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 200 g lentils, rinsed
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground fenugreek
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 0.5 teaspoon saffron threads, soaked in water
  • 1 liter water or chicken broth

For the bread (Meloui or Msemen)

  • 1 package meloui or msemen, cut into small pieces

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the sauce

In a large pot, sear the chicken on all sides in olive oil. Add the onion and garlic, and cook until they soften. Add all the spices (ginger, turmeric, cumin, fenugreek, pepper, saffron) and sauté briefly to release their aroma.

Step 2: Cook

Add the rinsed lentils, pour in the water or broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for about 1.5 hours, or until the chicken and lentils are completely tender and the sauce is thick.

Step 3: Prepare the bread

If you have store-bought bread, simply cut it into thin strips or small pieces. If you are making it at home, prepare it in advance. Place the bread pieces on the bottom of a large serving dish.

Step 4: Assemble and serve

Place the chicken and lentils over the prepared bread. Pour the hot sauce over everything to completely saturate the bread. Serve immediately, ideally generously sprinkled with fresh cilantro and topped with pieces of hard-boiled eggs.