
Oven-Baked Sesame Lime Chicken with Roasted Carrot Tahini Cream and Green Cilantro Rice
An original baked chicken recipe with a golden sesame-lime finish, served over a silky roasted carrot tahini cream and paired with fragrant green rice blended with cilantro and scallions. It balances citrusy, toasty, and herbal flavors in a complete, elegant dish.
Ingredients
- 700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (secados with papel of cocina)
- 500 g carrots (peladas and cut en trozos)
- 200 g jasmine rice (enjuagado)
- 480 ml chicken broth or water (for cocer the arroz)
- 45 g tahini (for the cream of zanahoria)
- 18 g sesame seeds (for the crust)
- 20 g fresh cilantro (leaves and stalks tiernos)
- 40 g scallions (chopped, parte blanca and verde)
- 12 g garlic (2 cloves for the chicken and 1 for the cream)
- 2 units lime (zest and juice separados)
- 45 ml olive oil (divided)
- 15 ml honey (for the glaseado ligero)
- 2 g ground cumin (divided)
- 2 g sweet paprika (for the chicken)
- 1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
- 8 g salt (divided)
- 60 g plain yogurt (for suavizar the cream)
- 30 ml water (solo si hace falta ajustar the cream)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- 2
In a bowl, toss the carrots with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and 1 garlic clove. Spread them on the tray and roast for 25 minutes at 220 °C / 425 °F, until tender with browned edges.
- 3
While the carrots roast, in another bowl mix the chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil, the honey, zest of 1 lime, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 2 grated garlic cloves, sweet paprika, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin, black pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt.
- 4
Add the sesame seeds to the chicken bowl and toss so they adhere well to the surface.
- 5
Once the carrots have roasted for 25 minutes, remove the tray from the oven and move the carrots to one side. Place the chicken on the other half and bake everything together for 15 more minutes at 220 °C / 425 °F, or until the chicken is cooked through and golden.
- 6
Meanwhile, place the jasmine rice and chicken broth or water in a medium saucepan with a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to very low heat, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
- 7
Blend the roasted carrots with the tahini, plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 1 teaspoon olive oil in a blender or food processor. If the cream is too thick, add the water little by little. Adjust salt to taste.
- 8
Finely chop the cilantro and mix it with the scallions. Fluff the cooked rice with a fork and add the cilantro-scallion mixture along with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Mix until the rice is green and fragrant.
- 9
Serve a layer of roasted carrot tahini cream on each plate, top with the green rice, and finish with the sesame lime chicken. If desired, add a little more lime zest on top before serving.
Chef tips
For a more pronounced sesame crust, gently press the seeds onto the chicken before baking. The carrot cream becomes silkier when blended while still warm.
Substitutions
You can use chicken breast instead of thighs, adjusting the baking time so it does not dry out. Jasmine rice can be swapped for basmati rice. For a dairy-free cream, replace the yogurt with more tahini and a few extra tablespoons of water.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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