Spiced Fruit Chicken and Rice with Herbed Yogurt

Spiced Fruit Chicken and Rice with Herbed Yogurt

directions

Ingredients

  • Four (4) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • Salt
  • 1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • Olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • One (1) medium onion, sliced thinly
  • One (1) bay leaf
  • 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 1/4 cups basmati rice (unrinsed)
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • Three (3) medjool dates, chopped
  • 2 1/4 cups water (or chicken stock)

Directions

  1. Rub the chicken thighs with a teaspoon of cumin and teaspoon of salt. Let sit for an hour on the counter or in the refrigerator if longer (as long as overnight).
     
  2. Preheat a deep skillet on med-high.
     
  3. Coat the bottom of the skillet with olive oil and place the chicken skin side down.
     
  4. Brown each side for about four (4) minutes each or until browned.
     
  5. Turn off heat, remove the chicken to a plate and pour out the fat. (Reserve the fat for some other use or discard).
     
  6. Heat the skillet to medium, add the butter, onions, the remaining tablespoon of cumin, and bayleaf.
     
  7. Cook until the onions are very soft and brown, about twenty (20) minutes. Stir often.
     
  8. Raise the heat to high and add the rice to toast for a minute.
     
  9. Add the dates and raisons and continue to cook for another minute.
     
  10. Now, add the water and bring to a boil.
     
  11. Taste the liquid. It should taste like salty soup. Add more salt if needed to achieve this.
     
  12. Cover the skillet and turn the heat to low and cook for forty (40) minutes.
     
  13. After forty (40) minutes, turn off the heat and let sit another ten (10) minutes before uncovering.
     
  14. Remove the lid and fluff rice with a fork.

Serve the chicken and rice immediately with the herbs and yogurt.

 

Herbed Yogurt

Ingredients

  • 1 cup yogurt (or sour cream)
  • 1 cup finely chopped herbs (such as parley, cilantro, tarragon, mint, basil, green onion, etc.)
  • 1/2 clove garlic, minced
  • Approximately 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • Pinch of salt

Directions

  1. Mix.