Saucy Mediterranean Chicken with Rice

Name: Saucy Mediterranean Chicken with Rice
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings.
Ingredients: 3/4 cup water; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel seed; 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric; 1 teaspoon ground coriander, optional; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 medium onion, chopped; 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes; 3 cups hot cooked rice; Minced fresh parsley, optional

The hints of Mediterranean flavor in this chicken dish make it a family favorite. —Tabitha Alloway, Edna, Kansas

Ingredients

3/4 cup water
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground fennel seed
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground coriander, optional
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 cups hot cooked rice
Minced fresh parsley, optional

Directions

In a small bowl, mix the water, tomato paste, lemon juice, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, ginger, fennel, turmeric and, if desired, coriander until smooth.
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions; cook and stir until tender. Stir in chicken; brown 3-4 minutes. Pour water mixture into pan.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until chicken is no longer pink, 8-10 minutes. Serve with rice. If desired, top with parsley.

Test Kitchen tips

Freeze leftover tomato paste on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet in 1-tablespoon mounds. Once frozen, transfer to a zip-top freezer bag.

Long grain rice triples when cooked and instant rice doubles. So you'll need 1 cup uncooked long grain or 1-1/2 cups uncooked instant to yield about 3 cups hot cooked rice.

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup chicken mixture with 3/4 cup rice: 394 calories, 13g fat (2g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 527mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 27g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2-1/2 starch, 2 fat.

Originally published as Chicken Cochin in Simple & Delicious June/July 2018