Freekeh Pilaf with Spiced Chicken
A single portion of Lebanese cooking, ready in 38 minutes.
Per portion
Calories from protein 22%, carbs 39%, fat 39%. Estimated from the ingredients.
Roughly £1.80 a portion.
Method
- 1
Rinse the freekeh. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onion for 8 minutes until soft and translucent.
- 2
Add the diced chicken and spices, and cook for 3–4 minutes until the chicken starts to colour.
- 3
Stir in the freekeh and stock, bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 15–18 minutes until the freekeh is tender and the liquid absorbed. Take off the heat and leave covered for 5 minutes, then fluff up with a fork.
- 4
Season to taste, then fluff through with a fork, scatter with the toasted almonds and parsley, and finish with a squeeze of lemon.
Cook's notes
- Sizes. Vegetables, fruit and eggs are medium unless the recipe says otherwise. A tin is a standard 400g tin.
- Dairy. Salted or unsalted butter both work; with salted, go easy on any extra salt. Use full-fat soured cream, crème fraîche and yoghurt in anything hot, as low-fat versions split.
- Stock. A cube or pot made up as the packet says. Cubes are salty, so taste before adding more salt.
- Heat. Medium means a gentle sizzle, not spitting. High means the oil shimmers before the food goes in. A simmer is a few lazy bubbles, not a rolling boil. Leave the lid off unless the recipe says to cover.
- Pans. A small saucepan is about 16cm and a frying pan about 24cm. Sauces reduce faster in a wider pan, so go by how it looks rather than the clock.
- Doneness. Chicken and turkey should reach 75°C in the thickest part, pork 65 to 70°C, and beef steak 55°C for medium-rare. Rest steaks and chops for a few minutes before slicing.
- Finishing. Taste before serving. Most dishes want a pinch more salt, and a squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar lifts anything rich.
- Leftovers. Cool quickly, cover and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days, then reheat until piping hot. Cooked rice keeps for 1 day and should only be reheated once.
solosupper.co.uk/recipes/freekeh-pilaf-with-spiced-chicken/
