Pages

will work for cheese

- from my senses to your screen -


Monday, February 15, 2010

7 Spice Arroz con Pollo






I love spices.
I love experimenting with them, tasting different combinations, smelling the results, infusing my home with them as I hear curious footsteps approaching the kitchen eagerly.
I have a great respect for Indian cuisine because the dishes are like a surprise party in your mouth. I love trying to figure out what's in it, even though, a lot of times, I am completely off and have no idea what I am talking about. Indian people know their spices and they know how to combine them down to an art form.
I felt like experimenting a bit today with the spices I know and came up with this. Let me tell you, it's pretty freaking good!

Try it at home and let me know what you think.

Here's the recipe.

7 Spice Arroz con Pollo:

1 teaspoon of the following spices:
Cumin
Cinnamon
Clove
Chili Powder
Yellow curry
Cardamon
Paprika

1 vidalia or yellow sweet onion
2 chicken breasts (no bone)
1.5 cups of rice
1.5 cup of whole peeled tomatoes (canned)
1 cup of cooked garbanzo beans
1/2 cup of black raisins
2.5 cups of chicken stock
1/4 cup of capers
Sea Salt to taste ( I use about 3 teaspoons, but it's up to you to change the amount)

Cut the onion in large cubes. Cook them in canola oil until they are golden. Add chicken cut in strips. Cook with the onions until they are tender. Cut the tomatoes in large cubes and add them with their juices. Let this simmer for 8-10 min in low heat. Add spices one by one and add rice. Let it cook as you stir for about 5 minutes.
Add raisins, capers and sea salt. 
Last, add chicken stock and garbanzo beans.
Let it cook in medium heat until 3/4 of liquid has been consumed. Cover it and turn down the heat. Cook until rice has flourished. Let it rest for about 15 minutes before serving.

I recommend to use a flat (paella type) pan to cook this rice, but that is not necessarily a rule.

Serve, decorate, sprinkle with a little chili powder and a little olive oil.

The rest, it's up to you!

Bon Appetit!