Chicken And Vegetable Ragout With Natural Whole Grain Brown Rice Recipes

EARLONNE'S CHICKEN AND BROWN RICE

Steps:

• Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper and leave it out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour. At the same time, add the brown rice to a bowl, cover with water and set aside to soak for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour.
• Adjust oven rack position to lower third and heat to 375 degrees.
• Make the spice mix: Add garlic powder, onion powder, coriander, paprika, cayenne, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 tablespoon pepper to a small jar or other lidded container and whisk to combine. Cover spice mix and set aside.
• Set a large (10- or 12-inch) cast-iron or other oven-safe skillet (preferably with a lid) over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and allow to melt. Working in batches if necessary to avoid crowding, carefully lay chicken legs in pan in a single layer, skin-side down, and cook until golden-brown, 4 to 6 minutes, then remove from pan and set aside on a plate, skin-side up. Meanwhile, drain the brown rice in a fine-mesh strainer, shaking to remove excess water; set aside.
• Add onions and celery to pan along with a generous pinch of salt. Reduce heat to medium and cook until vegetables are tender and lightly golden, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Return heat to medium-high, add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and allow to melt, then add rice and 4 teaspoons prepared spice mix. Toast rice until golden, about 90 seconds, then add stock and bay leaves.
• Bring to a boil, then taste and adjust for salt - the stock should be a little saltier than you are comfortable with. Turn off flame, nestle chicken legs into the pan, skin-side up, and cover with a lid or foil. (If using foil, take care to create a tight seal to prevent steam from escaping.) Place onto prepared rack in the oven.
• Check the pan after 15 minutes to make sure the liquid is at a steady simmer and adjust oven temperature as needed. Cook until rice absorbs the liquid and is tender and chicken is falling off the bone, about 80 to 90 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees and remove lid or foil from pan. Adjust rack position to upper third of oven, and place pan on rack. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes until chicken skin is deep golden brown. Remove from oven, and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
• In the meantime, prepare sauce: In a medium bowl, combine sour cream or yogurt, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir, taste and adjust seasoning for salt. Serve with chicken and rice; garnish with cilantro.
• Cover and refrigerate leftover chicken, rice and sauce for up to 5 days. Cover and store remaining spice mix in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Preparing the Vegetables Peel the carrots and cut them crosswise into 1 1/2-inch-long pieces. Cut the thicker pieces in half lengthwise as well. Peel each onion and cut into quarters. Wash the potatoes under cold water to get rid of any dirt. Leave them whole and unpeeled. Scatter the carrots, onions, and potatoes on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking or roasting pan. Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper over them, and lay 2 sprigs of the rosemary on top. If you are using dried rosemary, put 1 tablespoon in the palm of your hand and crumble it over the vegetables.
• Preparing the Chicken The giblets, which consist of the liver, gizzard, and heart, plus the neck, are usually in a package inside the cavity of the chicken, between the legs. Remove them and discard or refrigerate them to use later. If there is a pale-yellow chunk of fat on either side of the cavity, pull or cut it off and discard. Hold the chicken under cold running water and rinse it inside and out. Shake off excess water and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the remaining 11/2 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper over the outside of the chicken, rubbing them all over the skin. Set the chicken, the breast side facing up, on top of some of the vegetables, with the remaining ones surrounding the bird. Insert a dial-type (not instant-read) thermometer into the breast, taking care that the rod of the thermometer does not touch any bones.
• Roasting the Chicken Put the chicken in the center of the oven and set the timer for 30 minutes. When the timer rings, remove the pan from the oven and, using a large spoon, turn over the vegetables that surround the chicken. Don't bother with the vegetables under the chicken. Return the pan to the oven and set the timer for 30 more minutes. After 30 minutes, take the chicken out of the oven to check for doneness. Insert the tip of a small paring knife into the meat of the thigh where it attaches to the body. If the juices that run out are pink, the chicken needs to continue cooking for another 10 to 15 minutes. If the juices are clear, it is done. The meat thermometer should show a temperature of 170 degrees F to 180 degrees F when the chicken is done.
• Carving the Chicken Carve the chicken according to the instructions on the preceding page. Scoop the vegetables out of the roasting pan and onto a serving platter. Remove the fat from the pan juices. Arrange the cut chicken pieces on top of vegetables, spoon some pan juices over the chicken and vegetables, scatter the 2 remaining rosemary sprigs on top and bring the dish to the table for serving.

BASIC VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a large hot saucepan heat oil. Add onion, 1/3 of garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme and saute until onions and garlic are fragrant. Stir in zucchini, 1/3 garlic and tarragon, partially cover pan and cook for approximately 3 minutes or until zucchini has begun to soften. Stir in plum tomatoes with juice, 1/3 garlic and basil, partially cover pan and cook for 7 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender. Serve over rice. Top with Parmesan.

BEST-EVER ROAST CHICKEN AND ROOT VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Put the carrots, parsnips and onions in the bottom of a big roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper, and add to that the 1/2 cup of chicken broth.
• Then, remove the contents from the cavity of the chicken.
• Slice the top off of the whole head of garlic, and put that, the halved lemon, and the whole bunch of thyme inside the cavity. Truss the legs of the chicken.
• Season the outside of the chicken with olive oil, salt and pepper.
• Place the chicken on top of the vegetables in the roasting pan, fold the wings underneath the bird.
• Put the pan into a 400-degree oven for an hour and fifteen minutes -- at that point, check to see if the chicken's done (slice the wing, the juices should run clear). Add more time if needed.
• Let rest for 10-15 minutes, carve and serve with the roasted vegetables.

CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE RAGOUT WITH NATURAL WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package instructions.
• Apply coating spray to large non-stick skillet. Add chicken and cook 2-3 minutes each side or until cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
• Add garlic, green beans, zucchini and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add mushrooms, herbs and cook two minutes more. Add tomatoes and cook until heated through.
• Pour ragout over chicken and serve with rice.

ROASTED VEGETABLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste; place in a large roasting pan. Arrange vegetables around chicken, add water to the bottom of the pan, and cover pan tightly with aluminum foil.
• Roast at in preheated oven, basting occasionally, for 2 hours, removing the foil for the last half hour or so of cooking. Roast until chicken is golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the thigh reaches 165 degrees F (74 C). Let chicken rest 10 minutes before carving.

ROAST CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 385 degrees F (196 degrees C).
• Pour olive oil into a large bowl; toss potatoes, carrots, bite-size pieces of celery, and 3/4 of the sliced onion in the oil to coat. Set remaining onion aside. Transfer oiled vegetables to a large cast iron skillet.
• Rinse chicken and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels. Generously season the chicken, inside and out, with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Place the remaining 1/4 of the sliced onion, 1/4 cup margarine, lemon slices, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, and large pieces of celery into the cavity of the chicken.
• Place the chicken atop the oiled vegetables; scatter remaining 1/4 cup of margarine pieces and 1 2/3 tablespoon minced garlic in small amounts around the vegetables.
• Roast chicken and vegetables in the preheated oven until the skin is browned and crisp, the vegetables are tender, and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh reads 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving with vegetables.