Single hen

[fluffyknickers]

Made this tonight and was delish and very easy. Its from Something for the Weekend by Simon Rimmer. I served it with grated parmesan on top.

 

 

Preparation time less than 30 mins

 

Cooking time 30 mins to 1 hour

 

 

 

Ingredients

110g/4oz unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

350g/12oz chicken breast, skin removed, cut into small pieces

125g/4½oz lardons

2 carrots, peeled, sliced

1 onion, peeled, sliced

1 garlic clove, chopped

350g/12oz short grain rice, such as risotto rice

4 tomatoes, roughly chopped

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

salt and freshly ground black pepper

1.5 litres/2½ pints chicken stock

4 free-range eggs, beaten

ready-made garlic mayonnaise or chilli sauce, to serve

 

 

 

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350/Gas 4. Grease an ovenproof casserole dish with butter.

2. Heat two teaspoons of the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat until melted. Add the chicken pieces and the lardons and fry for 3-4 minutes, turning regularly, until golden-brown on all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside on a warm plate.

3. Add the carrots, onion and garlic to the pan the chicken was cooked in and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until softened. Remove from the pan and set aside on a warm plate.

4. In a large bowl, mix together the rice, fried vegetables, fried lardons, tomatoes, the remaining butter and the parsley. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

5. Pack half of the rice mixture into the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Place the chicken pieces on top, then cover with the remaining rice mixture. Pour over the stock.

6. Cover the casserole dish with a lid and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the rice is just tender.

7. Remove the lid from the casserole. Pour the beaten eggs over the rice and return the dish to the oven, uncovered. Cook for a further 4-5 minutes, or until the eggs have just set.

8. To serve, divide the baked chicken equally among four to six serving plates. Place a spoonful of chilli sauce or garlic mayonnaise alongside each serving.

[Snowy]

That sounds nice - but can I be really dense and ask what Lardons are?

[Cinnamon]

Bits of bacon Snowy

[fluffyknickers]

yeah its like little cubes of bacon - i just bought something called Cubetti pancetta (as was what they had in Somerfield). If I cant find lardons I have also cut up rashers of bacon before.

 

It was so delish, moreish and easy.

 

x

[Snowy]

Thanks! (you learn something new everyday!)