The Palestinian dish combining roasted chicken, onions, sumac, and flatbread is musakhan.
Musakhan is made by placing bread beneath or alongside chicken cooked with a large quantity of onions, olive oil, and sumac. The bread absorbs the seasoned oil and juices, while the sumac contributes a sharp, fruity acidity. Toasted pine nuts or almonds are common garnishes.
The dish is particularly associated with Palestinian cuisine and with the northern West Bank, although it is eaten widely across Palestine and by Palestinian communities elsewhere. Its ingredients reflect the importance of olive oil, wheat bread, onions, and sumac in the region’s food traditions.
Musakhan is sometimes confused with maqluba because both can be celebratory Palestinian dishes involving chicken. Maqluba is an inverted pot dish centered on rice, vegetables, and meat, whereas musakhan is centered on flatbread, onions, olive oil, and sumac.