Quick Potted Spanish Chicken
Serves 4
Traditional Spanish herbs spice up a simple chicken and rice dish.
Ingredients
- 1 large dried ancho chile, stemmed and seeded
- 3 cups chicken stock, divided
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup white or brown rice
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), divided
- 2 onions, chopped
- 2 ribs celery from the heart, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, grated or chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A few pinches ground cloves
- Salt and pepper
- One can diced or whole fire-roasted tomatoes (28 ounces)
- 4 small pieces bone-in chicken breast, halved crosswise
- 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
Directions
- In a small saucepan, bring the ancho chile and 1 cup chicken stock to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until softened, 10 minutes.
- In a saucepan, bring the remaining 2 cups chicken stock and the butter to a boil. Stir in the rice, then cover and simmer for 18 minutes. Remove from the heat and fluff with a fork.
- In another large saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons EVOO, two turns of the pan, over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, garlic, bay leaves, coriander, cumin, cinnamon and cloves; season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, 7-8 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and heat for 5 minutes. Transfer the sauce to a food processor, discarding the bay leaves. Add the soaked ancho and its liquid and process until smooth.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet with a lid, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons EVOO, two turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add it to the skillet skin-side down. Cook until browned, 7-8 minutes. Flip over and add the reserved sauce. Cover and cook the chicken through, 10-12 minutes.
- Serve the chicken on the rice and top with the parsley.