Easy Chicken and nut pilaf, a simple mid week dinner dish. Chicken breast is marinated in yogurt, lemon and a blend of warm spices. Once the chicken is cooked it's added to saffron rice, and finished with toasted nuts and fresh herbs.
Place the Greek yogurt, lemon juice and lemon zest into a bowl, then add all the spices for the marinade. Stir until well combined.
Now add the chicken pieces and ensure the chicken is completely coated with the marinade. Cover the bowl and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or anything up to 24 hours if time allows - the longer the marinate the tastier the chicken).
Cooking the pilaf
When ready to make the pilaf, place the saffron strands in a jug, pour over the hot chicken stock and set aside.
Place a small non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add the nuts to the pan. Roast the nuts in the dry pan, moving them frequently to ensure the nuts do not burn. Set aside once lightly toasted.
Add the butter and 1 tbsp of the olive oil to a large, deep-sided pan. Over a medium heat add the onion and saute for 5 minutes taking care to cook the onions but not colour them. Now add the garlic, cardamon pods and rice to the pan and cook for a further minute.
Pour the saffron infused chicken stock over the rice mixture, bring to a simmer then turn the heat down to low and cover the pan with a lid. Cook for 12-15 minutes until the rice has cooked and the liquid has been absorbed. Remove the cardamon pods.
Meanwhile add the remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil into a non-stick frying pan (use the same pan used to roast the nuts) and place over a medium/high heat. Add the chicken pieces to the pan, along with any marinade and brown the chicken on all sides, taking care to ensure that the chicken is cooked through.
Once the chicken has cooked, add it to the cooked rice, along with the nuts and the freshly chopped parsley. Stir to combine, season to taste and serve immediately.
Notes
The spices in this dish are very easily adapted. If there is something that you don't like, then leave it out, or add something else.If you don't like cashews, then use flaked almonds instead. Add to the dish that which you like to eat.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Chicken Pilaf with Nuts
Amount Per Serving
Calories 602Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Trans Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 12g
Cholesterol 63mg21%
Sodium 142mg6%
Potassium 792mg23%
Carbohydrates 62g21%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 33g66%
Vitamin A 507IU10%
Vitamin C 14mg17%
Calcium 118mg12%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
• Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only •