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Lavangi
Walnut-stuffed chicken
Toyuq ləvəngisi: Lankaran chicken stuffed with walnuts, onion and plum paste
Lavangi is the famous feast dish of Lankaran and the southern Talysh villages: a whole chicken stuffed with a dark, tangy paste of ground walnuts, onion and sour plum leather (lavashana) or alcha, then roasted until golden. It is cooked for Novruz and weddings, and the same stuffing goes into Caspian kutum for the fish version. A common mistake is packing the cavity too tight; the filling swells and the heat cannot reach the centre. Chef's tip: spread a little of the stuffing under the breast skin too, which keeps the breast moist and flavours the whole bird. Chicken is done when the thigh and the stuffing reach 74 °C.
- Total time
- 120 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1 whole chickenabout 1.6 kg
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
For the stuffing
- 7 oz walnutsfinely ground
- 3 onionsgrated and squeezed
- 2 ⅞ oz sour plum leather (lavashana) or tkemalisoaked in 3 tbsp hot water if dried
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix 7 oz walnuts, 3 onions, 2 ⅞ oz sour plum leather (lavashana) or tkemali, ½ tsp ground turmeric, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper into a thick, dark paste. Taste: it should be sour and nutty.
Step 2: Heat the oven to 375°F (fan 350°F). Season 1 whole chicken inside and out with 1 ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper.
Step 3: Loosen the breast skin and push 2 tbsp stuffing underneath. Spoon the rest loosely into the cavity. Common mistake: packing it tight; the centre stays undercooked.
Step 4: Tie the legs, rub with 2 tbsp sunflower oil and roast in a tin for 1¼–1½ hours, basting twice, until golden and the thickest part of the thigh and the stuffing both reach 165°F.
90 minStep 5: Rest for 15 minutes, then carve and serve with the stuffing.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 44 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 35 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does lavangi take?
- About 120 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 90 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 walnuts?
- Pecans or chocolate chips, same amount.
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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