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Përshesh
Përshesh: Kosovan baked cornbread soaked in chicken broth, served with the chicken
Weddings and big family gatherings in Kosovo often start with a tray of përshesh: crumbled cornbread soaked in rich chicken broth and baked until it sets into a soft, savoury, spoonable bake with a golden crust, topped with pieces of the poached chicken. It is homely and filling, eaten with pickled peppers and a cucumber salad. A common mistake is using a sweet, wheat-heavy cornbread: it falls apart and tastes like cake. Make a plain, coarse bread with cornmeal only. Chef's tip: bake the cornbread the day before; stale crumbs soak up the broth more evenly.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 2 ¼ lb chicken legs
- 6 ¼ cups cold water
- 1 onionhalved
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 ½ tsp salt
For the cornbread
- 10 ½ oz fine cornmeal (gluten-free)
- ½ tsp salt
- 7 oz plain yogurt
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup sunflower oil
- ½ cup warm water
To finish
- 1 ⅜ oz unsalted buttermelted
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Simmer the 2 ¼ lb chicken legs in the cold 6 ¼ cups cold water with the 1 onion, 1 bay leaf and 1 ½ tsp salt for 40 minutes, until the meat pulls from the bone and reads 165°F next to the bone.
40 minStep 2: Meanwhile heat the oven to 400°F (350°F fan). Mix the 10 ½ oz fine cornmeal (gluten-free), 2 tsp gluten-free baking powder, ½ tsp salt, 7 oz plain yogurt, 2 eggs, ¼ cup sunflower oil and ½ cup warm water into a thick batter and spread it in a greased 25 cm dish.
5 minStep 3: Bake for 25 minutes, until golden and a skewer comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, then crumble coarsely back into the dish.
30 minStep 4: Lift out the chicken, strain the broth and pull the meat into large pieces, discarding the skin and bones.
10 minStep 5: Pour about 900 ml of hot broth evenly over the crumbs; they should be fully soaked and loose, like wet sand.
2 minStep 6: Mix the 1 ⅜ oz unsalted butter with the 1 tsp sweet paprika and drizzle it over. Bake for 20 minutes, until the top is set and crusty. Lay the chicken on top and bake 5 minutes more until hot through.
25 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 30 g
- Carbs
- 41 g
- Fat
- 26 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does përshesh take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of gluten-free baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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