Chicken with Rice and Olives (Spanish Style Chicken Rice)

My mother had a quick and easy Spanish rice recipe that she would make when she was in a hurry. I wanted to update that recipe and I discovered a way to make a very easy chicken rice recipe that tastes like Spanish rice, but I substituted long grain brown rice.

I used boneless chicken thighs and my favorite gluten-free vegetable broth in this recipe. With the addition of chipotle pepper sauce and green manzanilla olives, this dish tastes like a flavorful Spanish rice.

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CHICKEN WITH RICE AND OLIVES

Ingredients:

6 boneless chicken thighs

1 tablespoon olive oil

4-5 peeled garlic cloves, sliced and crushed with a little salt (see Garlic and Salt Crush below)

5-6 carrots, sliced in 1-inch pieces, or small bag baby carrots cut in two

1/2 fresh red bell pepper, diced

1/2 fresh green bell pepper, diced

Fresh ginger (optional), one slice

1/2 small onion, diced into 2-inch pieces

1 small chopped tomato (optional)

Sea salt as needed to taste

1 quart (32oz) vegetable broth (I use Trader Joe's boxed broth)


Chipotle chile pepper sauce (See below for preparation)

Old Bay seasoning (optional but adds color)

1 cup water

1/2 cup uncooked long grain brown rice

12 green manzanilla olives, without pits

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Instructions:

Add the olive oil to a heavy stew pot and heat slightly. Add the sliced, crushed garlic and stir quickly in the oil until slightly browned. Roll out the boneless chicken thighs and arrange them in the pot, making sure there is enough oil covering the bottom of the pan so they do not stick. Increase the heat to medium high. Turn frequently and allow to brown slightly.

Garlic and salt crush:

Slice garlic with a sharp broad knife on a smooth cutting board. Sprinkle a small amount of sea salt or fine-grind kosher salt, then mash the salt into the garlic with the flat side of the knife. Scrape the garlic-salt mixture into the oil in the pot and allow to brown slightly. Garlic and salt crush is excellent for flavoring salad dressings and pizza sauce, too.


Pour the contents of the vegetable broth (1 quart) into the pot and cover with a lid. Allow to cook on medium heat for 5 minutes, then add the chopped onion and sliced carrots. After another 5 minutes, add the red and green bell pepper. Stir after adding each ingredient, and cover the pot again afterward.

At this point, prepare the chipotle chile pepper sauce as directed* Add to the pot and stir. Taste to be sure there is enough flavor, if not add salt to taste. Add Old Bay seasoning if desired. Add ginger slice if desired—crush slightly with the side of the knife to release flavor.

My recipe calls for Embasa chipotle in adobo sauce—use the brand of your choice. Follow directions below and use only a little bit! It's very hot but it gives a hearty smoky flavor. Embasa brand chipotle peppers can be found in the Mexican food section of the grocery store.

Chipotle pepper sauce:

Using a teaspoon, take out 1/2 to 1 tsp of the sauce from the can and mix with 1/2 cup tap water. If you get a bit of the chile, no problem; just mash it together with the water. Discard the big chunks, however.

Set aside to add to ground beef mixture.

Reserve the rest of the can in a small glass Mason jar and keep in refrigerator to use another time.

Allow the broth to cook for another 20 minutes or until the chicken meat is cooked and starting to shred apart. At first, it will look like a thin soup, but after a time, the broth will be reduced. Stir the pot, and then add 1 cup water to the soup to thin it a bit. Now, add 1/2 cup of uncooked brown rice and stir well. Break apart the chicken thighs as you stir. Replace the cover on the pot, and allow the soup to continue simmering on medium low heat for 20 minutes. Don't allow to boil dry.

Just before serving, add green manzanilla olives and stir into the chicken rice mixture. The flavors of the chicken, bell peppers, chipotle pepper sauce, and olives combine nicely to make a dish reminiscent of Spanish rice. Top with a bit of hot sauce, if desired.