This “Cheat’s” Chicken Rice Pilaf uses Microwave Wild Rice, so you can have it on the table quickly and you know the rice will turn out perfectly.
What makes this Chicken rice pilaf a pilaf?
A pilaf is a dish of spiced or flavoured rice, usually served with something. It’s different from risotto or paella in that less liquid is used and it shouldn't be gluggy. It is different from rice because of the addition of these spices.
In this Chicken Rice Pilaf we’re using chicken, garlic, cinnamon, cumin, caraway seeds, butter and salt and pepper to flavour the rice, and give it a lovely warming taste. We’re also going to use microwave wild rice (I used Ben’s Original) - this gives a beautiful texture, and also means we know the rice will come out perfectly.
What flavours are in this Chicken Rice Pilaf?
We’re combining warming and earthy flavours of chicken and cinnamon in this chicken rice pilaf, with sweet maple honey carrots and crispy kale, and then a nutty lemony tahini dressing.
That’s what makes this dinner so good - the complement of nutty, sweet and salty flavours makes it so incredibly satisfying and moreish.
Ingredients in this Chicken Rice Pilaf
- Rice base - garlic, butter, cinnamon, cumin, caraway seeds, wild rice and chicken.
- Maple carrots - Maple syrup (NOT maple flavoured syrup), olive oil, sesame seeds, carrots and kale
- Tahini dressing - tahini, lemon juice, water, yoghurt, salt and pepper
Top tip
When making the tahini dressing, you will find that when you first mix tahini with lemon juice, yoghurt and water it will first become thick and gluggy - keep whisking, it will soon become smooth. You can always add more water if you want it thinner.
Substitutions
- Alternative proteins - Swap chicken for chicken mince, beef or lamb mince, or salmon chunks.
- Vegetarian - Swap chicken for chickpeas.
- Dairy Free - Swap butter for olive oil.
- Gluten Free - This recipe is gluten free.
Kid-Friendly Variations
- To serve kids, dish up pilaf with slices of carrot, kale if they like it, and tahini dressing on the side.
Equipment
You will need an oven, a baking tray, a casserole dish or a deep, lidded frying pan, a stovetop.
More Rice dinners for you to try
Recipe
Chicken Rice Pilaf with Kale and Honeyed Carrots
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking tray
- Casserole dish or deep, lidded frying pan
- Stovetop
Ingredients
- 2 sprays olive oil
- 6 carrots
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 4 cloves garlic
- ½ bunch kale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 600 g chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 30 g butter salted
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
- 450 g microwave wild rice or plain
- ¼ cup Greek yoghurt
- ½ lemon
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 2 tablespoon water
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200 C and oil or line a baking tray.2 sprays olive oil
- Peel carrots, cut in half (or quarters if large) lengthwise, and place on the tray. Whisk together maple syrup, olive oil and drizzle over the carrots. Sprinkle over sesame seeds. Place in the oven for 10 minutes.6 carrots, 2 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoon sesame seeds, Salt
- Peel and finely grate garlic.4 cloves garlic
- Cut kale from the stem and tear leaves into small pieces. Massage with oil and set aside.½ bunch kale, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Cut chicken into 2 cm pieces.600 g chicken breast
- Heat a large casserole dish or deep, lidded frying pan on high, add oil and add chicken a few pieces at a time. Cook for 5-6 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.1 tablespoon olive oil, 600 g chicken breast
- Add butter and saute garlic, cinnamon, cumin and salt and pepper (opt.) for a minute, then add the rice and mix to warm. Once warm, turn off the heat but place a lid on to keep warm.4 cloves garlic, 30 g butter, 2 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon caraway seeds, Salt, Black pepper, 450 g microwave wild rice
- Add kale to the carrots on the tray and toss to cover with honey mixture. Return to the oven for 5 minutes.½ bunch kale
- Mix together a dressing of yoghurt, lemon juice, tahini, water, salt and pepper. Whisk vigorously.¼ cup Greek yoghurt, ½ lemon, 1 tablespoon tahini, 2 tablespoon water, Salt, Black pepper
- To serve kids, dish up pilaf with slices of carrot, kale if they like it, and tahini dressing.Serve adults chicken pilaf topped with caramelised carrots and kale, and drizzle over tahini dressing.
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