Mousakhan (Palestinian Chicken) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 whole chicken, about 2 lb each
salt and pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
3 medium red onions, sliced
3 teaspoons sumaq
2 arab flat bread (khoubiz) or 2 pita breads, plain

Preparation

Wash then wipe the chickens dry with paper towels.
Rub them inside and out with salt and pepper, then tuck and tie the wings under the body.
Heat half the oil in a large skillet and fry the chickens one at a time until lightly browned all over, turning often, then set aside.
Add remaining oil to the pan and saute the onion, stirring, until clear.
Sprinkle the sumak over the onion, cooking another 2 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Split each khoubz or pita bread in half, making 4 halves.
Place two slightly overlapping in the base of a baking dish large enough to hold both chickens.
Place a mound of onion in the center of each, using about a quarter of the onion mix only, and place a chicken on top of each, and spread remaining onion mix over the chicken evenly.
Pour the oil from the pan over the chicken, then cover with remaining bread, making sure to tuck it around the chicken as best as you can.
This bread covering is what keeps the chicken very moist and flavorful.
Bake in moderate oven (about 350) for 1 1/2 hours or until chickens are cooked through and tender.
If the bread browns too much or ack, begins to burn, you can place a piece of foil over the tops to avoid this.
Serve cut into portions with some of the bread if you wish.