A time-saving chicken and rice dish

This is a crazy, hectic world in which we are living. We may not notice (or do we?) but our fast-paced lives and long working hours are depriving us of leading a healthy lifestyle, and that will not have a positive long-term impact on us. 

Not only working out has become something reserved for those who are fierce, full of determination and who seem to enjoy plenty of free time, but also eating healthy has become a habit that very few people have.

It seems as if being healthy is an option only available to a small, selected group of people that invest a lot of their time into being so… and let’s be honest, that sounds almost impossible for the average 9-5 worker. 

Think nutrition

So… what is the result? The majority of UK citizens are acquiring poor nutrition habits. They believe that, in order to maintain a healthier lifestyle, they need to invest a lot of time and energy that -of course- they do not have! This is leading to stress, tiredness and the development of illnesses, among many other negative consequences being suffered.

What most people don’t realize is that being healthier does not take that much time (nor that much energy!). It’s not that hard, you’ll see that it’s possible to change your diet and to improve your health by establishing a day-to-day routine: try to start cooking at least one meal at home every day. It sounds kind of silly, but it will make a big difference. 

Basically, you’ll only need to use a few ingredients which you may already have in your fridge and hidden in your pantry; grains, proteins and some vegetables will be your best friends from now on. We assure you, you don’t even need that much time either. Surely you’ll be wondering how to cook chicken and rice in 15 minutes? Continue reading this article and you’ll find a great, simple and absolutely delicious idea to put into practice!

Chicken and rice, simple and healthy

Tuck into this healthy dish you can make in under 30 minutes with very few ingredients and plenty of flavours, and start changing your lifestyle one recipe at a time! 

This dish yields 6 servings, so you may either feed your entire family, your entire group of friends or just eat your own serving, save the rest in the refrigerator and then reheat the leftovers the next day. Either way, this dish will save you plenty of time and allow you to enjoy a delicious and nutritious meal. 

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 skinless chicken thighs, bone-in.
• 1 cup and a half of Jasmine rice.
• 2 cups chicken broth.
• ½ Cups white wine (optional, you may replace it with water or just more broth).
• ½ cup of water.
• 1 large chopped red onion.
• A pinch of saffron
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Finely chopped parsley to taste.
• Olive oil to taste.

DIRECTIONS

1. First, heat the olive oil in a large non-stick pan with a lid.
2. Sautée the onion until it is soft and tender (it would take you about three minutes), remove it from the pan.
3. Add the chicken thighs to that same pan, which should be full of onion flavor now. Let the chicken brown on each side. 
4. Take the chicken out and reserve for later.
5. Pour the rice into the pan along with the sautéed onions. Stir so as to moist the grains; do this until the grains become translucent.
6. Put the chicken back again into the pan, let it rest with the rice and onions for a bit, then add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Now it’s time for the liquids to come into play: add white wine and let the alcohol evaporate. 
8. Once that is done, add the chicken broth until your chicken and rice are covered (if you are not using white wine, just add the broth/water). 
9. Sprinkle the saffron in, put the lid on and let your preparation simmer for half an hour or until your rice is fully cooked. 
10. The liquid should be fully absorbed by now. If required, season with a bit more salt and pepper, sprinkle chopped parsley on top, serve and enjoy.

Now you know, being busy is no longer an excuse to only eat takeaways!