Cozy Comfy Chicken and Rice
Serves 4 | Prep Time 15 min | Cook Time 30 min
This has always been my personal comfort dish, a meal I make from leftovers after roasting a chicken on the weekend. One day a friend was in the kitchen when I was making it, and she started asking innocuous questions: “Say, how much of the shallot are you using?” “Was that a half cup of olives?” I was so busy cooking that I didn’t really pay attention to what she was doing with the answers. She figured out the recipe and started making it for friends, who loved it and wanted the recipe too. I guess I wasn’t meant to hold onto this one. That’s okay. It’s really, really good, and I hope you get as much pleasure out of it as I do.
Instructions
Bring the broth to a boil in a large saucepan. (If it’s been frozen, give
it a spritz of lemon juice.) Pour the broth into a small heatproof bowl, add the saffron, and let it infuse the broth. Using the same saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, then add the onion and a pinch of salt and saute until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the shallot and 1⁄4 teaspoon of salt and saute until just golden, about 1 minute. Add the rice and stir until mixed well, about 1 minute, to slightly toast the rice.
Stir in the broth and 1⁄4 teaspoon of salt and give the rice a quick stir. Bring the rice to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 12 minutes.
Stir in the chicken, olives, pimiento, and lemon juice. Cover, remove from the heat, and let stand for 12 minutes.
Fluff with a fork, then serve garnished with the parsley.
VARIATIONS: For those who would rather avoid chicken, try this as a rice dish using Magic Mineral Broth . . . it’s delicious!
Not everyone is into pimientos and olives. I’ve been assured by a close friend that this dish is delicious without them.
COOK’S NOTES: Sauteing the rice with the onion and shallot gives this dish a little more depth of flavor.
As a time-saver, you can purchase an already roasted organic chicken from the store for this dish.
My favorite type of olives for this dish is an Italian variety called Cerignola. They’re more buttery and mellow than many varieties.
If you can’t find them, kalamata olives are also wonderful here. Just make sure you give them a good rinse before adding them to the dish.
STORAGE: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 days. PER SERVING: Calories: 225; Total Fat: 6.2 g (1.2 g saturated, 3.7 g mono-
unsaturated); Carbohydrates: 26 g; Protein: 16 g; Fiber: 2 g; Sodium: 320 mg
Ingredients
21⁄4 cups Chicken Magic Mineral Broth or store-bought organic chicken stock
1⁄4 teaspoon finely chopped saffron threads
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons finely diced yellow onion
Sea salt
1 tablespoon finely diced shallot
1 cup jasmine rice, rinsed
11⁄4 cups chopped or shredded roasted organic chicken
3 tablespoons chopped olives
1 to 2 tablespoons diced pimiento peppers
Spritz of fresh lemon juice
1⁄2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish