Easy Msakhan Chicken Rolls

Easy Msakhan Chicken Rolls

These Msakhan rolls are filled with a tangy and flavourful chicken and onion mixture—spiced with sumac and sweet and sour pomegranate molasses.

I was introduced to these rolls by a follower of mine, Huda, and knew I immediately had to make them. This recipe is adapted from her family's recipe, which she was super kind enough to share with me 🥹🫶🏼 thank you!

Msakhan & its History

These rolls are a variation of the traditional Palestinian dish called Msakhan—which is considered their national dish!

It's made of roasted sumac chicken, tangy and spiced caramelized onions, served on bread called Taboon — which is a traditional Palestinian flatbread cooked on hot stones.

It's made during the olive harvest season, around October and November. Palestinians has a rich history surrounding olives and have trees dating back hundreds to thousands of years.

They celebrate olive harvest season; a time of joy and community by making this dish as it requires a lot of good quality olive oil.

Unfortunately, this has become increasingly difficult as settlers uproot Palestinian owned olive trees, bulldoze and burn them. Since 1967, Israel has uprooted more than 800, 000 olive trees in the occupied West Bank. The olive harvest, which is usually a celebratory event, with festivities and family coming together, has turned into them being scared for their lives.

Olive trees are an important source of income for Palestinians, as well as being a symbol of identity and connection to their homeland. They have been and will continue to be an incredible symbol of Palestinian strength and resilience.

Learn more about the topic

If you are curious about the topic, I urge you to learn more about the ongoing atrocities and gen-ocide happening Gaza. Check out on the ground footage by Palestinian journalists such as Motaz Azaiza, Plestia, Bisan, Hind Khoury and many more. There are many books on the topic by authors such as Dr. Norman Finkelstein, Ilan Pappe, and Edward Said.

It's always important to remember that the food we eat and try from other cultures carries so much history and stories of the people who have been making it. Learning about the culture and its struggles is the least we can do to educate ourselves and bring awareness to causes such as whole gen-ocide happening and being broadcasted on our screens everyday.

I encourage you to try this and other Palestinian dishes out and learn about the rich history surrounding it!

What are Msakhan Rolls?

These msakhan rolls a variation of Msakhan and basically take shredded chicken and the caramelized onions to make a delicious mixture and use as filling for the rolls. It's absolutely AMAZING.

The rolls can be grilled on the stove, baked or airfried. I air-fry mine as its easy and quick and I love how it turns out.

Rolling the rolls

Traditionally, you would use a very large flatbread called Sajj or Markouk and cut it up and make the rolls. It's very thin and easy to roll up and crisps up pretty quick. It adds an incredibly amazing flavour to the rolls which I can't quite describe.

You can find it in most Arab/Middle Eastern grocery stores.

If you can't find sajj, you can also use chapati, tortilla or even spring roll pastry to make the rolls.

Important ingredients for the Msakhan Chicken Rolls

• Chicken thighs
• Red Onions - You can use yellow if you prefer
• Sumac - Adds tartness to the onions and deepens the reddish hue
• Pomegranate molasses - This is tangy and sweet (sweet & sour) and really brings the flavour home in this dish. It balances out the sweetness from the onions
• Good quality olive oil - Using good quality olive oil is really important here as it is one of the star ingredients and the flavour really makes a difference. If you are able to source Palestinian owned olive oil, it's even better.
• Sajj / Markouk - This is a really large and thin flatbread that is cut up to make the rolls, typically found at a Middle Eastern grocery store. Use tortilla, chapati or spring roll sheets if you cannot find it.

FAQ

What can I use to make rolls if I don't have Sajj?

You can use chapati/roti, tortilla or even spring roll pastry

How do I freeze the rolls?

Make and form the rolls. Place them on a tray and freeze for 30 minutes. Once partially frozen, put them in a container or a zip-loc bag so they don't stick together. When you're ready to use, take them out and air fry them straight away. Or defrost them and grill them on a stove

Can I use leftover chicken for this recipe?

You can use whatever leftover chicken you have, or even rotisserie chicken. Whatever makes it easier for you! The main flavour comes from the onions, sumac and pomegranate molasses so the chicken itself isn't a make or break deal.

Happy Cooking!