Rooster and rice cooked collectively in a single pot is significantly good. The rice absorbs all of the juices from the hen and any greens you utilize, plus broth flavourings. Flavour mixtures are infinite. In the present day, we’re doing Portuguese – full with copycat Nando’s Rice and a drizzle of Peri-naise. So good!
Portuguese hen and rice
A buddy of mine calls this Portuguese biryani. Which, I do know, proper now there are 1 billion Indians crying. To any Indian readers – sorry! I’d disown her, however she has dust on me.😅
In her defence, it was meant as a praise. Biryani, as each Indian is aware of, is the world’s greatest hen and rice. So for this humble recipe to get talked about in the identical breath, nicely, that’s flattering!
However, right now’s recipe isn’t Indian flavoured in any respect. Suppose – Portuguese seasoned hen plus a shameless Nando’s Portuguese Spicy Rice copycat. That vivid yellow rice with onion, capsicum and a touch of spice, besides method higher. The Nando’s model I attempted for “analysis” was meh*. Home made is a lot tastier!
* To be honest, I’ve been advised by dependable sources that Nando’s in Australia could be very underwhelming in comparison with abroad, specific within the UK and SA (the place it originated).
Substances in Portuguese Rooster and Rice
A correct Nando’s copycat Peri Peri sauce requires blitzing capsicum (bell peppers) with herbs and spices. In the present day, we’re utilizing a easy dry rub model which is way sooner to make and sticks higher to the hen for the tactic of cooking we’re utilizing on this dish.
1. Portuguese hen bites
You possibly can in principle substitute the spice combine with a retailer purchased Portuguese seasoning, as a result of truly reality be advised the combination I used is one I concocted by inspecting the components of Herbie’s Portuguese Seasoning packet. 🙂
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Rooster thighs – Juicier reduce than breast so the hen bites are extra flavourful after the 15 minute steaming + 10 minute resting time. Truly, if I solely had breast, I’d most likely prepare dinner it throughout, take away, then put it again into the pot when tossing the rice (the rice will heat the hen via simply).
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Easy Portuguese seasoning for hen – Pantry staples! As famous above, shameless copycat of Herbie’s. 🙂
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Herbs and spices – Paprika, garlic powder (substitute contemporary garlic), dried oregano, coriander, brown sugar and cayenne pepper for contact of heat (be at liberty to omit).
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Moist components (to make a paste so it coats the hen) – olive oil and lemon juice (substitute with apple cider vinegar, or different clear vinegar).
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2. portuguese rice (nando’s spicy rice copycat!)
And right here’s what you want for the rice. Nando’s rice known as “spicy rice” however I query the usage of the phrase spicy, I actually couldn’t style any. For mine, I take advantage of the smallest trace spiciness from the chilli flakes, however you completely skip it if you’d like.
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Basmati rice – The lengthy grains of basmati rice are nice for one-pot rice cooking as it’s a much less sticky number of rice so that you get good fluffy rice.
Lengthy grain rice may also work nice, and medium grain too. Jasmine and sushi rice are stickier however will work okay right here. The recipe as written will not be appropriate for brown rice, risotto, paella rice, quinoa, fake rice, minute rice, designer rice (black rice, purple rice, wild rice and so on).
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Onion, garlic and purple capsicum (bell pepper) – The greens and aromatics that add tasty flavour into this rice. Don’t skip these!
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Turmeric powder – for the stunning yellow color and heat toasty flavour.
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Chilli flakes (purple peper flakes) – Elective, for a contact of heat just like the rice at Nando’s (it’s referred to as Nando’s Spicy Rice!).
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Frozen peas (OPTIONAL) – Not current at Nando’s. I added it as a result of in any other case it’s an enormous pot of yellow!
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Rooster inventory (broth) – Tastier than water. 🙂
3. Peri-naise – or different sauce choices
The rice and the hen is tasty as it’s. However slightly drizzle of Peri-naise takes it excessive – I’m speaking simply 1 tablespoon, not a lot. There’s one thing concerning the mixture of slightly creamy sauce and scorching steamy golden rice……Nando’s figured this out many years in the past. I’ve simply caught on!
I’ve popped the Peri-naise recipe right here in a separate recipe card as a result of it’s worthy. I’ve linked a complete bunch of recipes to it that you’ll want to use it for. I used the short dry spices model (the opposite choice is predicated on a do-it-yourself Peri Peri Sauce, use that the instances you’ve acquired it :-).
OTHER QUICK SAUCE OPTIONS
Even a drizzle of plain mayonnaise (Kewpie!) would go a good distance right here. To make it pink, combine with slightly sriracha (for grown ups) or ketchup (for the young-ones / spice wimps). Candy chilli sauce straight from the bottle would work nicely right here too, as would your favorite chilli crisp (mix that with kewpie!).
How one can make Portuguese Rooster and Rice
It is a one pot recipe the place raw rice will get cooked within the pot concurrently the hen. Although, I do insist on searing the surface of the hen first (however preserving it uncooked inside), then eradicating earlier than sautéing the onion and capsicum else by the point the rice is cooked, the hen is method overcooked and dry.
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Portuguese seasoning for hen – Combine the seasoning components in a bowl, it ought to be like a paste, then toss with the hen. Put aside when you prep for the remainder of the recipe. It doesn’t want marinating time however when you needed to, you may pop it within the fridge in a single day.
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Perinaise – Combine the components in a bowl. (In actuality, I do that whereas the rice is cooking).
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Sear hen – Warmth the oil in a big heavy primarily based pot over excessive warmth, then sear the hen till the spices are scorching on the floor of the hen and also you get a little bit of color, however it’s nonetheless uncooked inside. Take away the hen with a slotted spoon to go away the fats behind.
The hen gained’t brown as a result of the pot is just too crowded. If you need golden hen, prepare dinner the hen in two batches (I don’t, as a result of I’m going mid-week straightforward right now).
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Sauté – Nonetheless on excessive, prepare dinner the onion and garlic for a minute, then add the capsicum and hold stirring for one more 1 1/2 minutes till the onion is softened.
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The whole lot in – Add rice and stir to coat it within the tasty oil. Then add every part else – the inventory, turmeric, peas and so on, and put the hen again in together with any liquid pooled within the bowl.
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Steam quarter-hour – Carry the liquid to a simmer, then decrease the warmth so it’s simmering gently and pop the lid on. Prepare dinner for quarter-hour – no peeking, no stirring!
Range power for rice cooking – You want sufficient warmth so the liquid is simmering gently, not quickly (base will burn) but in addition if the warmth is just too weak and the water will not be simmering, the rice is simply sitting in scorching water, bloating slightly than cooking. You want bubbles, simply small ones! (See video after I peek underneath the lid).
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Relaxation 10 minutes – On the 15 minute mark, all of the liquid ought to be absorbed – tilt pot to have a fast examine (be fast, don’t need an excessive amount of steam to flee!). Then, with the lid on, take away the pot from the range and relaxation for 10 minutes.
This step is important for rice cooking – the rice grains end cooking correctly and the wetness on the floor of the rice grains will get absorbed so your rice finally ends up fluffy than moist and mushy.
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Fluff, drizzle and serve – Fluff the rice to combine the hen via, then divide between bowls. Drizzle with slightly Peri-naise (don’t skip this), sprinkle with inexperienced onions then serve!
Facet observe – The hen will get stained a stunning golden color slightly than staying the dramatic Portuguese purple it began off as. However the flavours are nonetheless caught to it!
This nearly qualifies as a my “full dinner” in my books, containing a complete onion, capsicum and cup of peas (sure, onion counts in direction of your each day vegetable consumption!). Nevertheless, for some straightforward additional veg choices, I’d counsel including a finely diced carrot and/or fennel (sauté with the capsicum), roughly chopped kale (add it with the peas) or proper on the finish you may toss the rice with child spinach (it’ll wilt in a short time).
Additionally, aspect observe, this reheats very nicely! Being a fluffy-rice dish like biryani, it doesn’t congeal right into a block of rice when cool. If the rice appears slightly dry, simply sprinkle with water earlier than protecting to reheat and it’ll steam again to perfection.
In any case, a drizzle of the Peri-naise can save something.
Hope you get pleasure from! – Nagi x
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Portuguese hen and rice – one pot recipe
Servings5
Faucet or hover to scale
Substances
Portuguese hen seasoning:
Nando’s copycat spicy rice (or not):
Forestall display from sleeping
Directions
ABBREVIATED RECIPE:
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Toss hen with seasoning, sear, take away. Sauté onion and garlic, then capsicum, stir in rice, add every part else + hen. Steam quarter-hour coated, relaxation 10 minutes. Serve!
FULL RECIPE:
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Season hen – Combine the Portuguese Rooster Seasoning components in a bowl. Add hen and toss to coat. Put aside when you put together the remainder of the components, or in a single day if you’d like (although not essential).
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Sear – Warmth the two tablespoons of oil in a big heavy primarily based pot over excessive warmth. Add the hen and prepare dinner till the surface is sealed and will get a little bit of color (it will not go golden). Take away with a slotted spoon right into a bowl, leaving oil behind within the pot.
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Sauté – Add garlic and onion into the pot, prepare dinner for 1 minute. Add capsicum and prepare dinner for 1 1/2 minutes or till onion is translucent.
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All in – Add rice and stir to coat within the tasty oil. Add remaining rice components, then scatter the hen evenly throughout the floor. Additionally add any juices accrued within the bowl. Stir, deliver to a simmer, then put the lid on and decrease warmth to medium low so it is simmering gently. (Word 3)
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Steam rice quarter-hour – no peeking, no stirring! Liquid ought to be absorbed – tilt pot and elevate lid for fast peek.
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Relaxation 10 minutes – Take away pot from the range and depart to relaxation for 10 minutes with the lid nonetheless on.
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Fluff & serve – Take away lid, gently toss the rice. Spoon into bowls, drizzle over Peri-naise, sprinkle with inexperienced onions and serve!
Recipe Notes:
2. Rice – Lengthy grain rice would even be nice right here. Medium grain may also work nicely. Jasmine and sushi rice are stickier however will work okay right here. Recipe not written for brown rice, risotto, paella rice, quinoa, fake rice, minute rice, designer rice (black rice, purple rice, wild rice and so on).
3. Warmth power – Too low (ie no bubbles in any respect) = rice wallowing in heat water not cooking, will bloat and be mushy. Too excessive (ie fast bubbles) = base will burn, rice on floor won’t prepare dinner. Discover a completely happy medium – mild simmering (see video after I peek underneath the lid).
4. Pink Sauce – 3/4 cup bitter cream of yogurt blended with 2 – 3 tbsp sriracha (for grown ups) or ketchup (for teenagers / spice antagonistic grown ups), or a mix of the 2. See in submit for extra sauce ideas.
Leftovers will hold 3 days within the fridge, not appropriate for freezing (rice dries out).
Diet per serving, assuming 5 servings, excluding sauce.
Diet Data:
Energy: 458cal (23%)Carbohydrates: 57g (19%)Protein: 26g (52%)Fats: 13g (20%)Saturated Fats: 2g (13%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 8gTrans Fats: 0.02gLdl cholesterol: 95mg (32%)Sodium: 980mg (43%)Potassium: 555mg (16%)Fiber: 4g (17%)Sugar: 6g (7%)Vitamin A: 1434IU (29%)Vitamin C: 45mg (55%)Calcium: 58mg (6%)Iron: 3mg (17%)
I really like a superb one-pot hen and rice recipe!
Listed below are a few of my favourites from through the years.
Lifetime of Dozer
After 3 months off sick and injured, he was again at his favorite seaside in the course of the sunny weekend!
Sure, typically a seeming chokehold is the one method I can get him to have a look at the digicam for a cheerful snap. 😂
I actually hadn’t deliberate to go in – we’re only a few days out of winter, in any case(!) – however I forgot his life jacket so I needed to wade in to be inside lunging distance, simply in case. 🙂
In the meantime, Dozer took to the water like he’d by no means missed a single seaside day, by no means thoughts my chattering enamel. The issues I do for this darn canine!!! 😊
