Name: Ptitim and Chicken Drumstick Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 2 h
Ingredients: 26 oz ptitim (Israeli couscous); 4–5 cups water; 1 tbsp salt; 3 tbsp olive oil; ¼ cup olive oil; 8 chicken drumsticks; salt and pepper; 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 1 fresh red chile (seeded and finely chopped); 1 carrot, peeled (cut into small dice); 1 celery root (cut into small dice); 3 celery stalks, sliced; 1 cup frozen peas; ½ tsp ground nutmeg; 2 tsp ground turmeric; freshly ground black pepper; ½ cup chopped parsley; olive oil for the pot (a layer about 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) deep); ⅓ cup water

How I make it

Ptitim

Bring the water to a boil with the salt and olive oil and cook the ptitim for 5-6 minutes.

Chicken and vegetables

Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a wide skillet and add the drumsticks. Season with salt and pepper and brown on all sides. Remove from the pan.
In the same oil, cook the thyme, garlic, onion, chile, carrot, celery root and celery stalks. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 5-6 minutes, until the vegetables are soft.
Mix the vegetables and peas into the ptitim, then add the spices and parsley.

Assembly and cooking

Pour olive oil into the bottom of a pot, about 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) deep.
Press half of the ptitim firmly into the bottom of the pot. Arrange the browned drumsticks in a ring on top, then cover with the rest of the ptitim and press down firmly.
Set the pot over the largest burner on high heat and cook for 5-6 minutes.
Add 1/3 cup water, cover and cook for 2 more minutes.
Make sure the lid is tight, turn the heat to low and cook for exactly 1 hour.
Invert onto a serving platter.

Ptitim and Chicken Drumstick Cake Draft

What you need

Ptitim

Chicken and vegetables

Seasoning and assembly

How I make it

Ptitim

Chicken and vegetables

Assembly and cooking