Description
A wholesome and flavorful Healthy Portuguese Chicken and Rice recipe featuring tender chicken breasts, nutrient-rich brown rice, and a vibrant mix of vegetables and spices like smoked paprika and piri-piri seasoning. This one-pot dish is cooked on the stovetop, making it a comforting and nutritious meal perfect for any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon piri-piri seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup brown rice, rinsed
- 2 skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.
- Sauté vegetables: Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, red bell pepper, and diced carrot. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add spices: Stir in the smoked paprika, piri-piri seasoning, salt, and black pepper until the spices become fragrant.
- Coat rice: Add the rinsed brown rice and stir to coat the grains in the oil and spices for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add liquids and tomatoes: Pour in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and chicken broth, then bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Cook chicken and rice: Stir in the diced chicken breasts, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until the rice is tender and the chicken is fully cooked.
- Finish with parsley: Remove the pan from heat, sprinkle in the fresh parsley, and fluff the rice with a fork.
- Rest the dish: Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels.
- Ensure the chicken is diced evenly for uniform cooking.
- Brown rice requires longer cooking times, so do not rush the simmering step.
- Adjust piri-piri seasoning according to your heat preference.
- Allowing the dish to rest before serving deepens the flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 47 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Portuguese
Keywords: Portuguese chicken and rice, healthy chicken recipe, one-pot meal, brown rice chicken, stovetop chicken dish, low fat chicken recipe
