Recipe: Country Captain Chicken

Country Captain Chicken

2 3/4 cup water
1 tbsp butter
1 1/2 cup white and wild rice (or long grain rice)
2/3 cup flour
1 tbsp sweet paprika - (rounded)
4 piece boneless skinless chicken breast - (6 oz ea)
3 x boneless skinless chicken thighs
Salt to taste
Freshly-ground black pepper to taste
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp butter
1 green bell pepper seeded, chopped
1 red bell pepper seeded, chopped
1 medium onion chopped
2 large garlic cloves - (to 3) smashed
1 tbsp curry powder (or mild curry paste)
1 cup chicken stock
1 can diced tomatoes in puree (or chunky style crushed tomatoes)
1/4 cup golden raisins or currants
2 oz sliced almonds lightly toasted
3 scallions chopped, for garnish

Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add butter and rice and return water to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover the pot. Cook rice 20 minutes or until tender. Turn off heat and fluff rice with a fork.

Combine flour and paprika in a shallow dish. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cut each chicken breast and thigh in half on an angle. Coat chicken pieces in paprika seasoned flour. Wash your hands and chicken work surfaces thoroughly.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to the pan. Brown chicken pieces, 3 minutes on each side, and remove from the skillet.

Add butter to the pan, then stir in peppers, onions and garlic. Season the veggies with salt and pepper and saute them 5 to 7 minutes to soften.

Add curry, stock, tomatoes and raisins. Slide chicken back into the skillet and simmer over moderate heat for 5 minutes to combine flavors and finish cooking the chicken through.

Place skillet on a trivet and serve the chicken from the pan. Garnish the Country Captain's chicken with sliced almonds. Transfer rice to a serving dish and garnish with chopped scallions.

Servings: 4 to 6