Monday, November 14, 2011

Rice with Chicken, Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion


Ingredients:
1 ½ cups basmati rice
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium onions, halved and sliced in about 1/4 inch slices
½ teaspoon sea salt
3 cups baby arugula, baby spinach or baby kale (if your leaves have long stems pinch off most of them)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon sea salt
2 cups butternut squash , diced into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 -3 cups cooked, diced chicken breast
2 eggs, beaten
sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
¼ cup fresh parsley

Directions:
1. Cook the rice in plenty of salted boiling water for 10-12 minutes or until it's tender but still has just a bit of bite (pull out a few grains at about 9-10 minutes and check). Drain and rinse with cold water. Let it sit in strainer to completely drain, then transfer to a large bowl.

2. Melt butter in a large skillet. Add olive oil, onions, brown sugar and salt. Stir to combine and cook over medium low heat until deep golden brown, about 15-20 minutes. Once onions are caramelized, add spinach or argula and stir until greens are just beginning to wilt.

3. Add olive oil to empty pan and heat for a minute or so over medium heat. Add butternut squash (or any other type of squash), sprinkle with sea salt and sauté until tender and golden, about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionallyy. Add garlic, cooking and stirring for 30 seconds longer then add dried cranberries and chicken. Stir to combine then transfer this mixture to pan with rice and squash.

4. Heat pan one more time, there should be enough oil from the squash, if not spray with a bit of cooking spray. When pan is hot, at eggs and let sit for about 30 seconds then start stirring until eggs are cooked and broken up into small pieces. Add eggs to rice mixture.

4. Gently stir all ingredients in bowl to combine, taste and add salt pepper to taste and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

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