Nancys Rice Recipes

THE BEST CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Toss the chicken with the paprika, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Place the chicken skin-side down in the skillet and cook undisturbed until the skin is golden but not too dark, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate using a metal spatula and add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet.
• Add the carrots, celery and shallots to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not yet turning golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, thyme, oregano, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook just until you begin to smell the garlic, about 1 minute. Stir in the rice and cook undisturbed until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Pour in the broth, add 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir to combine, then add the chicken thighs back to the pan, skin-side up. Bring the liquid to a boil then cover, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the lid from the pan and broil until the chicken skin is crispy and golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the chives.

ARROZ CON POLLO (RICE WITH CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Add 3 drumsticks and 3 thighs to the Dutch oven and cook until browned on both sides, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove the chicken pieces with a slotted spoon and set aside. Repeat with the remaining drumsticks and thighs.
• Add the onions and peppers to the pot and cook until the onions are translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for about 1 minute. Add the paprika, cumin, saffron and bay leaves, stirring until incorporated. Next, add the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, beer, rice and 1 teaspoon salt; mix well. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer.
• Return the chicken pieces to the pot, cover, and transfer to the oven for 20 minutes. Remove the pot from the oven, add the peas and pimientos, then cover and return to the oven until the rice is completely tender, another 5 to 10 minutes.

HERBED RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a medium saucepot over medium heat. Add the rice, onion and thyme and saute until the onion is softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the chicken stock over the rice, cover and cook over medium-low until tender and fluffy, about 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork, fold in the parsley and let stand 5 minutes before serving.

CHICKEN AND RICE SOUP

Steps:

• For the leftover roast chicken stock: Put the cleaned chicken carcass in a large saucepan along with the salt, peppercorns, celery, bay leaf, carrots and onions and cover with cold water, about 8 cups. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve or a colander lined with paper towels. You should have 6 cups stock after cooking.
• For the soup: Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat until hot. Add the garlic, carrots, celery and onions and saute until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the kale and cook for about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Hand-crush the canned tomatoes directly into the pot; it's nice to keep a little texture with the tomatoes. Add the chicken stock and simmer the soup on medium heat for 20 minutes. Fold in the rice and chicken and simmer for 5 more minutes. Finish with chopped parsley and serve in warm bowls with grated Parmesan on top.

NANCY'S RICE

Steps:

• Melt butter in the skillet, add onion, rice, mushroom and oregano. Stir well and add consomme and water. Simmer until done about 2 hours.

NASI GORENG (INDONESIAN STIR-FRIED RICE)

Steps:

• Put the rice in a medium heavy-based saucepan and add 520ml water. Quickly bring to the boil, stir once and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 mins. Uncover, fluff up with a fork and spread over a tray. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Pour in the beaten egg and, as it begins to cook, use a spatula to bring large flakes of cooked egg into the middle of the omelette. Continue to cook like this for a couple of mins, then leave the rest of the egg to set completely. Flip the omelette over and transfer to a plate to cool before cutting it into long, thin shreds.
• Drop the beans into a pan of boiling salted water and cook for 3 mins. Drain, refresh under cold water and set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in a wok or large, deep frying pan until almost smoking. Add the chicken and prawns, and stir-fry for 1 min. Tip in the shallots, garlic, chillies and carrots, and stir-fry for a further 2 mins until the carrot is just tender. Add the spice paste and stir-fry for 1 min more. Add the tomato purée, kecap manis, cooked rice and green beans, and stir-fry over a high heat for 2 mins. Add the soy sauce, spring onions and shredded omelette, and toss together.
• Spoon the nasi goreng onto warmed plates. Overlap the cucumber and tomato on the side of each plate, sprinkle over the crispy fried onions and serve with prawn crackers.

WEEKNIGHT FANCY CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan with a lid, melt ghee over medium-high heat. Add onions, cardamom, star anise and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are soft and a very deep golden brown, about 15 minutes, lowering heat if necessary to keep from burning them. Add garlic and turmeric; cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes, or until very fragrant. Add chicken and cook for 4 minutes, stirring to coat chicken with the onion mixture.
• Add stock and remaining salt, increase the heat and bring to a boil. Add rice, stir and cover. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the rice has absorbed liquid, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 12 minutes. Remove lid and fluff rice with a fork.
• Transfer chicken and rice to a bowl, taking care to remove and discard cardamom pods and star anise. Garnish with apricots, almonds and cilantro. Serve at once.