Cereal and Poultry: A Perfect Match Between Carbs, Fibre, and Protein

When you were a child, chances are there wasn’t a day when rice wasn’t part of any of your meals. It was, and still is, a mandatory item in your mom’s shopping, and maybe in her mom’s too. So, it is not a big surprise that you also have some packages of rice in your pantry.

From its origins, rice’s way to every house has been a natural process thanks to its distinctive and beneficial characteristics. It is adaptable to different types of climates and soils which makes it possible to have an affordable crop all year round.

Perhaps the most essential quality of this cereal is its versatility. Rice has a mild flavor and pairs perfectly with any other ingredient. No matter if the preparations are salty, sugary, desserts, or even drinks, rice goes well with almost anything.

The great utility of this essential cereal is demonstrated in all traditional rice-based dishes prepared in different cultures worldwide. Paella, Risotto, Sushi, and Thai fried rice are a few examples of the wide use of rice in all cuisines.

Extra point for rice

In addition to all the marvelous qualities of rice, it has even more extra points to add to this list. Rice has an excellent nutritional value. It is low in fat and sugar content, but high in fiber, minerals, and vitamins; besides, it is gluten-free.

Moreover, its cooking simplicity is the icing on the cake. Most rice dishes can be prepared in a few steps in a short time. It may seem that the speed and simplicity of preparing rice meals result in tasteless and basic preparations. But that’s far from being the truth.

The success of all rice dishes relies on the components it is cooked with. Rice absorbs the richness of other ingredients to make mouthwatering preparations.

Paring rice with different ingredients

Different cultures around the world pair rice with local herbs, spices, and proteins and end up with nutritious, easy, and quick dishes. The best example of a delightful combination is poultry with rice.

Most countries have a dish using rice and chicken since it is very simple to cook, a healthy choice and it can be made with various techniques. The combination of cereal and poultry gives all the carbs, fibers, and proteins the body needs to work correctly. So, all the dishes containing these components, besides being healthy, are unique and delicious.

Some of them are:

• Chicken biryani.
• Chicken Jambalaya.
• Thai chicken rice.
• Chicken Risotto.
• Chicken Pilaf.
• Cardamom butter chicken.
• A chicken mole with rice.
• Baked chicken with rice.
• Moroccan chicken with rice.
• Jerk chicken, rice, and peas.

Cooking the perfect match recipe

One of the most appreciated rice’s quality is the ease when cooking any rice recipe. The match of rice and chicken is not the exception. You only need to have a good recipe and at hand quality ingredients. Let’s go for it, and cook a nutritious cereal and poultry meal.

Moroccan chicken with rice

Ingredients (4 servings)

For the chicken

• 4 chicken thighs bone-in.
• Lemon juice.
• ¼ cup of chicken broth.
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• 1½ tablespoons of turmeric.
• 1 tablespoon of cumin.
• ½ tablespoon of dried coriander.
• 1½ tablespoons of oregano.
• 6 crushed cloves of garlic.

For the rice

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil for rice.
• 2 cups of Basmati rice.
• 3½ cups of chicken broth.
• 4 crushed cloves of garlic.
• 1 chopped onion.
• One tablespoon of turmeric.
• 1 teaspoon of coriander.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Fresh coriander for garnish.

Preparation:

1. Marinate the chicken. In a bowl, combine lemon juice, olive oil, turmeric, cumin, coriander, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
2. Incorporate chicken in this mixture and stir.
3. Cover the bowl with plastic film, and refrigerate overnight; or for 2 hours minimum.
4. Once the chicken thighs are marinated, cook them on a baking tray with some olive oil in the oven at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes each side. They must get a bit brown on both sides.
5. Pour ¼ cup of chicken broth, cover the baking tray and bake for 10 minutes. Take the chicken from the oven and set it aside.
6. Prepare rice. In a saucepan, add olive oil, onion, and garlic. Cook at medium-high for 10 minutes.
7. Add turmeric, and coriander, and combine all ingredients very well.
8. Incorporate basmati rice, mix and pour 3½ cups of chicken broth.
9. Add the baked chicken, cover the saucepan, and simmer for 20 minutes.
10. When all broth is absorbed, turn off the heat and let it stand.
11. Serve with fresh coriander on the top.