Lebanese Chicken-and-Rice (sort of)

This is yet another variation of my Lebanese chicken-and-rice recipe. The reason I say "sort of" in the title of this post is that I didn't use ground lamb--which is in the original recipe--and I color/slightly flavor the dish with turmeric (along with the other spices), which is not normally in this recipe. In addition, in the recipe pictured I used a whole split chicken (which I poached in chicken broth before using the broth and the chicken in the recipe); the recipe listed below utilizes just the chicken breast. Anyhow, if you'd like more Lebanese inspired recipes, or to see this one being made, click here.

Lebanese Chicken-and-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.