Happy New Year! Seems appropriate seeing it’s my first post for the year. Hope you all have an amazing 2023 filled with everything your heart desires.

One Pot Peri Peri Chicken and Rice

It hasn’t been a great festive season. I think December is never going to be the same for our family again. We lost our 22-year-old nephew in a tragic accident.

It is one of the most devastating news we’ve had to deal with in a while. Still feels surreal. He was a kind, gentle caring soul who was taken away too soon.

Once again this confirms that life is indeed short. Cherish the ones you love and don’t waste time on things that don’t matter.

As I always say let go of things that no longer serves you. Because yes life is indeed too short to be wasted.

I haven’t been cooking much, hasn’t been a great end or start to the year. I had Covid and it’s taken me a while to feel energised again. I am feeling much better so I hope I can get back to some serious work.

From time to time I will get a comment pointing out my errors or asking for more tips on my recipes. I see them and I am taking note.

I get that some of my earlier recipes were not always up to scratch in terms of every little tip, trick and advice. Remember I started very green, I didn’t know much about blogging or what my readers expected from me.

However, I am paying more attention to the comments and I am working on things I didn’t get right the first time. Please bear with me.

For me it’s not just about providing a recipe but also about being transparent. Know that I’m not perfect but I can strive to become better at what I do.

Today I made this One Pot Peri Peri Chicken and Rice for my dinner. I wasn’t sure that the critics are going to approve of this dish.

Surprise, surprise they loved it and I didn’t hear any complaints. In fact there was hardly any leftovers so that should say something.

Ingredients required for this dish

I did use a few different spices and probably some of you may not have all of it. But don’t despair you can leave it out and make the dish with spices you have.

The Nandos sauce has a whole lot of flavor on its own so this also adds a whole dimension of flavor.

To cook the chicken you will need chicken breasts or thighs, paprika, peri peri, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chilli powder, salt and pepper and olive oil

For the rice you need basmati or any long grain rice, olive oil, butter, red pepper, garlic, onion, tomato paste, turmeric, paprika, cumin, spice for rice, peri-peri, chilli powder, chicken stock, peas, baby corn (optional), nandos peri-peri sauce (hot or whatever you prefer)

How to cook this dish

First you marinate the chicken and sear it in a pan. If you are using chicken breasts be sure not to over cook them. It takes only between 2-3 minutes per side, depending on the thickness.

I cut the breasts in the center to make them thinner, that way they also cook quicker.

If you’re using chicken thighs that’s more forgiving. You may need to adjust your cooking time. If your chicken isn’t fully cooked don’t despair you can pop it into the rice for a few minutes at the end of cooking time.

I used basmati rice and I soaked it for 30 minutes. It did take about 30 minutes to cook. Depending on the rice you’re using you may have to adjust your cooking time.

The rice and veggies is cooked with the chicken stock. Add the chicken back to the pot with the nandos peri-peri sauce and dinner is served. I also added some grilled halloumi but that is totally optional.

This dish is made in one pot so not many dishes to wash, that’s a plus.