Description
A hearty and flavorful one-pot chicken and chickpea pilau, combining tender chicken thighs, aromatic leeks, garlic, chickpeas, and brown rice, all cooked together with zesty lemon and fresh broccoli for a nutritious, easy-to-make meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 chicken thighs, skin removed and trimmed of fat
- 2 large leeks, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 400g can chickpeas in water, drained and rinsed
- Grated zest of 1 lemon
- 200g easy-cook brown rice
- 450ml chicken stock
- 1 head broccoli, broken into florets
Instructions
- Heat the Pan: Heat a large, lidded frying pan or flameproof casserole over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Brown the Chicken: Add the chicken thighs and fry for 2 minutes, turning halfway through, until lightly coloured. Remove the chicken from the pan and place it on a plate.
- Sauté Leeks: Add the thinly sliced leeks to the pan and stir-fry for 3 minutes until softened.
- Add Garlic and Chickpeas: Stir in the crushed garlic cloves, drained chickpeas, most of the lemon zest, and brown rice, mixing well to combine all ingredients.
- Add Chicken and Stock: Nestle the browned chicken thighs into the rice mixture. Pour over 450ml of chicken stock and lightly season with salt and pepper.
- Simmer Covered: Cover the pan with a lid, reduce to low heat, and cook for 20 minutes until the chicken is nearly cooked and the rice has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Add Broccoli and Finish Cooking: Place the broccoli florets on top of the rice, cover again, and continue cooking until the rice, broccoli, and chicken are fully cooked and tender.
- Serve: Sprinkle the remaining lemon zest over the dish and serve warm.
Notes
- Using skinless chicken thighs helps reduce fat content while keeping the meat tender and juicy.
- Brown rice adds a nutty flavor and more fiber compared to white rice.
- Be sure to keep the heat low during simmering to prevent burning at the bottom of the pan.
- If preferred, you can substitute broccoli with other green vegetables like green beans or peas.
- The dish can be made gluten-free by ensuring the chicken stock is gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keywords: chicken pilau, one-pot meal, chickpea rice, healthy dinner, easy chicken recipe, brown rice pilau
