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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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Serve the chicken on the rice and top with the parsley.