Timman Bagilla

Timman Bagilla

Timman Bagilla

In Arabic, Timman Bagilla means beans and rice. This dish can be eaten by itself or be accompanied by either chicken or lamb and a garlic mint yogurt sauce. Timman Bagilla is typically cooked in large batches and served at banquet. The addition of golden raisins and pomegranate seeds gives the rice a slight sweetness to help balance out the richness of this dish.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Iraqi
Keyword: Chicken, Iraqi, main course, Middle Eastern, rice
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

Rice and Beans

  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 1 bunch dill chopped
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 lb fava beans
  • 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 3 tbsp golden raisins
  • salt and pepper to taste

Chicken

  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cubed
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch

Garlic Mint Yogurt Sauce

  • 2 cups whole milk plain Greek yogurt
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 10 mint leaves chopped
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Garnish

  • pomegranate seeds

Instructions

  • Heat up cooking oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Sauté the onions for 5 minutes.
    Iraqi, main course, chicken, rice
  • Stir in the dill, turmeric, and fava beans. Sauté for 2 minutes.
    Iraqi, main course, chicken, rice
  • Add in the water and the basmati rice along with the golden raisins. Bring to a boil and simmer until the liquid is 50% evaporated.
    Iraqi, main course, chicken, rice
  • Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes.
    Iraqi, main course, chicken, rice
  • While the rice is cooking, season the chicken with salt and pepper. Coat in the cornstarch.
    Iraqi, main course, chicken, rice
  • Heat up cooking oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add in the chicken.
    Iraqi, main course, chicken, rice
  • Sauté for 7-8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
    Iraqi, main course, chicken, rice
  • By the time the chicken is finished, the rice will have absorbed all of the liquid.
    Iraqi, main course, chicken, rice
  • Mix together all of the yogurt sauce ingredients.
    Iraqi, main course, chicken, rice
  • Place the rice in the center of the plate. Place the chicken around the rice, with the yogurt sauce off to the side. Garnish with pomegranate seeds.
    Iraqi, main course, chicken, rice