Keto Sumac Harissa Chicken

This keto sumac harissa roasted chicken is a flavorful Mediterranean dish that is marinated and baked in the oven. It makes for a very tender, tangy chicken that everyone will love.

Yup, everyone will love this dish. It may have quite a number of spices, but it’s not a spicy, hot dish; it just has lots of flavor.

It’s a keto harissa chicken that uses sumac spice for a Middle Eastern flare that is unmatched!

If you are familiar with Middle Eastern dishes, you’ll know that they love their aromatic herbs and spices. It’s a healthy, tasty chicken recipe that is naturally low in carbs and, therefore, keto-friendly. 

I already have a few Mediterranean recipes because this girl loves these flavors. If you’re a fan too, you should totally also try our keto Moroccan picadillo and our keto Moroccan carrot salad.

Or just visit our entire collection of keto Mediterranean recipes!

Keto Harissa Sumac Chicken

This keto harissa sumac chicken produces the most tender, juiciest, and tangiest chicken every time! It’s one that is sure to impress your family and friends since it’s not only delicious but stunningly beautiful.

It’s a roasted chicken with an Israeli twist. Look, whether you call this Mussakhan roasted chicken, Mediterranean chicken, Israeli chicken, or Palestine chicken.

Everyone will agree that it’s the most aromatic flavor of chicken they have tasted.

As someone who loves trying new spices to spice up her keto meals, pun intended, this dish made my palette sing!

What Is Harissa?

If you are not familiar with harissa, let me introduce you to this delicious condiment.

Harissa is a chili paste made from a variety of dried chili peppers, some mild and some hot. These peppers are then rehydrated with olive oil and further flavored with warm spices.

Basically, it’s a peppery condiment that originally came from Tunisia and is widely used in Moroccan, Tunisian, Libyan, Israeli, and Algerian dishes.

You’ll notice that harissa can vary in flavor widely, with some harissa being smoky while others have a more tangy flavor. You can find harissa sold as a paste or sauce.

In this recipe, I am recommending the use of harissa paste since it gives the most flavor impact, in my opinion.

Wondering where to source it? The good news is that it’s easily found in most supermarkets today or can be ordered online.

Is Harissa Keto-Friendly?

The number of carbs in a harissa paste will vary depending on the recipe or brand. This means it’s important to read the labels carefully if you choose to buy your harissa.

I found this harissa in Trader Joe’s that can be enjoyed on a keto diet in moderation.

If you want to be in full control of the number of carbs in your harissa paste, I recommend you consider making your own.

Here is a great keto harissa recipe for you to try if you want to go that route.

What Is Sumac? 

Perhaps you have never used sumac in your cooking and are wondering exactly what it is. Sumac is a popular spice in the Middle East, with a rich culinary background that dates beyond the Roman Empire.

The culinary berries of sumac are a vibrant shade of red. The berries are turned into a coarse powder and used as a ground spice after they are allowed to ripen and dry fully.

It is prized for its bold tart flavor and is used to bring out the natural flavors in a dish.

Sumac has a deep ruby-red color and a citrusy flavor profile that imparts a level of brightness similar to lemon juice.

In fact, sumac smells and tastes like lemon, except that sumac is not quite as sour and even has a slightly sweet taste to it.

Is Sumac Keto?

If you are wondering if sumac is considered keto-friendly, the good news is that it is naturally very low in carbs.

One serving of sumac contains 0.1 total carbs, making it virtually carb-free and, therefore, a good choice for anyone doing a keto diet wanting to enjoy the tangy, lemony taste of this berry.

In fact, it’s actually much lower in carbs than lemon and would be a great substitute for lemon juice!

Ingredients Needed

Make your chicken dinner the highlight of your week. The combination of warm spices and the tanginess of sumac makes this a delicious and memorable dish.

Perfect for special occasions or even a weeknight meal.

The following are the ingredients you’ll need to make this keto Mussakhan chicken. Note that the full printable recipe card is at the bottom of the page.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

• Whole chicken, approximately 5 pound
• Harissa paste
• Minced garlic cloves
• Ground sumac
• Cumin powder
• Allspice powder
• Cinnamon powder
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Ginger powder
• Ground turmeric
• Coriander powder
• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Smokey paprika
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• lemon slices
• Red onion, finely chopped
• Flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• Za’atar seasoning (optional topping)

How To Make A Keto-Friendly Sumac Harissa Roasted Chicken

Making this Morrish dish is very straightforward. You’ll start by making the marinade. 

To do so, combine the harissa paste, minced garlic cloves, ground sumac, ground cumin powder, allspice powder, cinnamon powder, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger powder, ground turmeric, ground coriander, olive oil, lemon juice, paprika, sea salt, and black pepper.

Then, place your chicken in a large baking dish and toss it with the marinade. Cover the chicken with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.

Once you are ready to bake, leave the chicken in the marinade, place the chopped red onions around the chicken, and top the chicken with the lemon slices.

You’ll bake in a preheated 375-degree oven. Roast the chicken for about 60 minutes, or until the chicken is just cooked through.

I like broiling the chicken for the last 3–5 minutes of cooking or until the chicken is golden brown.

I then garnish the top of the chicken with chopped parsley and za’atar seasoning.

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I sure hope you will make this keto-friendly sumac harissa chicken.  Please remember to tag us on Instagram and Facebook with your pictures if you do.

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