Yet Another Variation

I've mentioned many times on this blog that this dish (Lebanese Chicken-and-Rice) is one of my all-time favorite recipes, I could eat it a couple times a week and not tire of it. I've also posted many variations of it, and this is yet another. The thing I did different this time--other than using brown rice, which I generally do now--is that about 10 minutes before the rices was done cooking I lifted the lid and layered a pound of fresh spinach on top. After it was finished I gently folded it into the rice. The recipe is below, but if you'd like to see other variations of this recipe--with many more photos showing it being prepared, click here. To see other Lebanese-inspired recipes, click here.

Lebanese Chicken-and- Brown Rice

Makes 4 servings

3 tablespoon olive oil

4 chicken breasts

4 ounces diced onion

2 ounces whole wheat spaghetti, broken into pieces

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup long grain brown rice

3 cups hot chicken broth

2 tablespoons minced parsley

Heat the olive oil over high heat in a heavy-bottomed pan. Sauté the chicken on both sides until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Add the onion and vermicelli to the pan and cook until golden, then add the garlic and cook another minute or two. Add the cinnamon, cumin, allspice, and salt; sauté two minutes while stirring. Add the onions and pasta back to the pan along with the rice, stirring to fully coat it with with the oil and spices. Then add the chicken breasts to the pan, pushing them gently into the rice. Pour in the broth and cover the pot with a lid. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 30-40 minutes, or until the rice is cooked. Remove the pot from the stove and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with minced parsley.

Urban Simplicity.