View source for Musakhan

{{Short description|Palestinian bread and chicken dish}}
{{Distinguish|Muhammar|text=with the Bahraini dish [[Muhammar]]}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Infobox food
| name             = Musakhan
| image            = Mushakhan Dish.jpg
| image_size       = 250px
| caption          =
| alternate_name   = 
| country          = [[Palestine]]
| region           = [[Levant]]
| creator          = 
| course           = Meal
| served           =
| main_ingredient  = Chicken, sumac, onion, [[taboon bread]], olive oil 
| variations       = 
| calories         = 
| other            = 
| associated_cuisine = [[Palestinian cuisine|Palestinian]], [[Levantine cuisine|Levantine]]
}}

'''Musakhan''' ({{langx|ar|مسخّن|lit=something that is [re]heated}}),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seriouseats.com/msakhan-recipe-5219618 |title=Msakhan (Palestinian Flatbreads with Onion, Sumac, and Roast Chicken) Recipe }}</ref> also known as '''muhammar''' ({{langx|ar|links=no|محمّر|lit=reddish}}), is a [[Palestinian cuisine|Palestinian]] dish composed of [[Roast chicken|roasted chicken]] baked with [[onion]]s, [[sumac]], [[allspice]], [[saffron]], and fried [[pine nut]]s served over [[taboon bread]]. Originating in the [[Tulkarm]] and [[Jenin]] area,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Albala|first=Ken|title=Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia [4 volumes]: [Four Volumes]|pages=293}}</ref> musakhan is often considered the [[national dish]] of [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestine]]. The dish is particularly popular among [[Palestinians]] and [[Jordanians]].<ref name="Basan2007">{{cite book|author=Ghillie Basan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-7wnpIi3VRwC&pg=PA189|title=The Middle Eastern Kitchen|date=January 2007|publisher=Hippocrene Books|isbn=978-0-7818-1190-3|pages=189–}}</ref> It is also eaten by [[Israeli Druze|Druze]] in the [[Galilee]], especially around [[Iksal]] and [[Sandala, Israel|Sandala]], and in the [[Triangle (Israel)|Triangle]].<ref name="Mostyn1983">{{cite book|author=Trevor Mostyn|title=Jordan: A Meed Practical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7S9uAAAAMAAJ|year=1983|publisher=Middle East Economic Digest Limited|isbn=978-0-9505211-8-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/1.625577|title=After Death Threats, Palestinian Food-serving U.S. Restaurant Closes|last=Haaretz|date=10 November 2014|access-date=24 April 2018|newspaper=Haaretz|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042056/https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/1.625577|archive-date=1 December 2017}}</ref> The dish can be found in [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]] and [[Jordan]] as well.<ref name="Basan2007" /> The dish owes its name to the practice of Palestinian farmers reheating old taboon bread and make it taste better.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kassis |first=Reem |title=We Are Palestinian: A Celebration of Culture and Tradition |date=2023 |publisher=[[Bonnier Books Ltd]] |isbn=9781800783287}}</ref>

Musakhan is simple to make and the ingredients needed are easily obtainable, which may account for the dish's popularity. Many of the ingredients used—[[olive oil]], sumac and pine nuts—are staples of Palestinian cuisine. The dish is typically eaten with one's hands. It is usually presented with the chicken on top of the bread, and could be served with soup.

==World records==
On April 20, 2010, the largest ever dish of musakhan was prepared in [[Ramallah]] and was entered into the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jmcc.org/news.aspx?id=705 |title=Palestinian 'musakhan' to enter Guinness record book |author=Amjad Rafiq |date=2010-04-10 |access-date=2017-11-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012142821/http://www.jmcc.org/news.aspx?id=705 |archive-date=2017-10-12}}; {{cite web |url=http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/04/20/106354.html |title=الفلسطينيون يدخلون "غينيس" بأكبر رغيف مسخن في العالم |date=20 April 2010 |trans-title=Palestinians enter Guinness World Records with the world's largest 'Musakhan' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423063324/http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/04/20/106354.html |archive-date=2010-04-23}}</ref> Palestinian Prime Minister [[Salam Fayyad|Salam Fayad]] described it as a great achievement and honor for the Palestinian people: "This great achievement completely depended on Palestinian products, mainly olive oil. It also has a cultural dimension and a Palestinian message to the world that they want their legitimate rights."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Palestinian largest "Musakhan "enters the world Guinness book |website=Baheth Center |date=2010-04-20 |url=http://www.bahethcenter.net/english/essaydetails.php?eid=571&cid=95 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723022859/http://www.bahethcenter.net/english/essaydetails.php?eid=571&cid=95|archivedate=July 23, 2011}}</ref> The total diameter of the musakhan loaf was 4 meters, with a total weight of 1,350&nbsp;kg. Forty Palestinian cooks made use of 250&nbsp;kg of [[flour]], 170&nbsp;kg of olive oil, 500&nbsp;kg of onions and 70&nbsp;kg of [[almond]]s.

==See also==
* [[Palestinian cuisine]]
* [[List of chicken dishes]]

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Levantine cuisine}}

[[Category:Arab cuisine]]
[[Category:Baked foods]]
[[Category:Chicken dishes]]
[[Category:Israeli cuisine]]
[[Category:Jordanian cuisine]]
[[Category:Palestinian cuisine]]
[[Category:National dishes]]
[[Category:Palestinian inventions]]