Serves: 4

This delicious chicken dish was our winning Dishy Dads 2013 recipe from Philip Doyle

'My recipe was inspired by a dish at Avoca, a Moroccan restaurant in Dublin. Ras el hanout is a Moroccan spice blend made up of more than a dozen different spices, including cumin, fennel and rose petals. You can use more or less spicy harissa paste to suit your family's palate.'

Ingredients

• 4 chicken legs, skinned
• 2 tsp ras el hanout, plus extra to serve
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 450g Greek-style yogurt
• 2 large carrots, peeled
• 1 tsp rose harissa paste
• 2 x 400g tins Puy lentils, drained and rinsed
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2 lemons, plus the zest of a third lemon
• 1 x 110g bag wild rocket
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C, fan 200°C. gas 7. With a sharp knife, separate the chicken thighs and legs at the joint.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the ras el hanout, 1 tablespoon of the oil and 350g of the yogurt. Add the chicken pieces, mix well and set aside for 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a shallow pan, cook 1 carrot, diced, and the harissa in ½ tablespoon of the oil, stirring, for 5 minutes. Stir in the lentils and 100ml of water and heat through.
4. Add half the vinegar, season and stir in ½ tablespoon of the oil. Remove from the heat and keep warm.
5. Remove the chicken from the yogurt marinade after 20 minutes, shake off the excess and place on a baking tray.
6. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 190°C, fan 170°C, gas 5 and cook for a further 25 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from the oven, cover with foil and set aside to rest.
7. Heat a griddle pan until smoking hot. Halve the 2 lemons, lightly oil the cut sides and griddle them, cut-side down, for 3-4 minutes until lightly charred.
8. Peel the second carrot into ribbons. Add to a bowl with the rocket. Dress with the remaining oil and vinegar; season.
9. Add any chicken juices to the lentils with a squeeze of lemon juice to taste. Serve the chicken with the lentils and remaining yogurt, sprinkled with lemon zest, a pinch of ras el hanout and the chopped coriander. Serve with the salad and griddled lemons.

Tip

Marinate the chicken the day before; chill