Lemon Chicken And Leek Rice Pilaf Food

PAN SEARED CHICKEN WITH TENDER LEEK, LEMON RICE PILAF, AND WHATEVER YOUR GARDEN GROWS SALAD

Steps:

• Trim leeks of tough green ends and roots. Split leeks lengthwise, then cut across into 1/2-inch slices. Place sandy slices of leeks into a large bowl filled with cold water. Separating the layers of each slice to free the grains of sand. Allow the sand to settle to the bottom of the bowl. With your hands, gently lift the leeks out of the water leaving the sand and dirt behind. Place the leeks within arm's reach of the stovetop.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Add olive oil to skillet to coat the pan, then add chicken breasts. Brown chicken breasts 3 to 4 minutes on each side, then transfer to a plate.
• Add a little more oil to the pan, then pour in leeks. Saute leeks 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add 1 cup wine to the pan and nestle chicken breasts down into leeks. Reduce heat to simmer and cook chicken 5 to 7 minutes longer.
• To serve, remove chicken from pan and slice on an angle. Fan and arrange sliced chicken breasts over a bed of Sauteed leeks on each dinner plate or a warm serving platter. Serve with rice and salad.
• Pilaf: heat a medium saucepan or pot over moderate heat. Add oil and butter and shallots to the pan. Saute shallots 2 minutes, then add 1 1/2 cups rice. Lightly brown rice 3 to 5 minutes. Add wine and allow it to evaporate entirely, 1 to 2 minutes. Add thyme and chicken broth to the rice. Fill broth can half-again with water or, measure 1 cup water and add to pot. Bring liquid to a boil. Cover rice and reduce heat. Cook rice 20 minutes, until tender.
• Stir the zest of 1 lemon and parsley into rice. Transfer lemon rice to dinner plates or warm serving dish and garnish with toasted slivered almonds.
• Heat 3-inches of water in a deep skillet and heat to a boil. Add trimmed wax and green beans and julienne sliced yellow squash to the pot. Simmering vegetables in water for 2 minutes, add red peppers and simmer 1 minute longer. You want the vegetables to remain full of color and bite. Drain vegetables and cold-shock under running water in your colander.
• Place drained vegetables in a serving dish and combine with sliced scallions and shredded dark garden greens, such as spinach or arugula.
• Whisk together mustard, vinegar, and lemon juice. Add olive oil in a slow stream while whisking to get a nice emulsion of your dressing. Add herbs and pour dressing over the salad. Toss salad to combine flavors and coat your vegetables evenly.

BAKED RICE WITH WHITE BEANS, LEEKS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Rinse the leeks until they're clean, then shake or pat dry. Using a vegetable peeler, peel 1-inch-thick strips of lemon zest, then cut the lemon in half. Cut one half into four wedges and reserve the other half.
• In a 9-by-13-inch baking pan, combine the leeks, lemon zest strips, almonds, red-pepper flakes and olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper, and arrange in an even layer. Roast until the leeks start to caramelize, about 20 minutes.
• Finely chop the lemon zest strips, then stir it back into the leek mixture and arrange in an even layer. Sprinkle the rice evenly over the leeks, then top with the beans and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the boiling water, then seal the pan tightly with foil. Bake until the rice is tender, 20 to 22 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Squeeze the lemon half over the rice, then stir in Parmesan and herbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with lemon wedges, and more Parmesan and herbs, as desired.

RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Add the spaghetti and toast until deep golden in color and very nutty-smelling. Add the rice and stir for a minute. Season with some salt and pepper, add 3 1/2 cups of the stock and bring to a low boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the rice is just tender, about 18 minutes; add extra stock as necessary if the pan gets too dry. Fluff the pilaf with a fork. Mix in the currants, pignoli, chives and parsley.

PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the bacon in a large heavy-bottomed ovenproof skillet and cook over medium-high heat until some of the fat renders, about 5 minutes. Push the bacon to the side of the pan. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add it to the pan and cook, turning, until it starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and leeks, then arrange the chicken on top of the bacon-leek mixture. Transfer to the oven and roast until the chicken is golden and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 160 degrees F, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter.
• Carefully return the skillet to the stovetop over medium-high heat. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the broth and half-and-half and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Bring to a boil and cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Stir in the parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice. Spoon the leek mixture over the chicken. Serve with the remaining lemon wedges.
• Per serving: Calories 418; Fat 24 g (Saturated 8 g); Cholesterol 147 mg; Sodium 322 mg; Carbohydrate 14 g; Fiber 1 g; Protein 34 g

CHICKEN, LEEK & BLUE CHEESE PILAF

Steps:

• Tip the rice into a large pan with 600ml water, the bouillon powder and bay. Cover, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 mins. When the rice has been cooking for 10 mins, heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok, and stir-fry the chicken for a couple of minutes over a medium-high heat until just cooked. Remove from the pan, then fry the leek until starting to colour. Add the courgette, stir-fry for a few minutes more, then add the peas.
• When the rice is cooked, tip it into the vegetables along with any liquid from the pan. Return the chicken to the pan or wok, then cover and cook for 5 mins more. Stir in the walnuts and cheese, and serve hot.

EASY LEMON CHICKEN WITH RICE

Steps:

• Season chicken breasts generously with garlic powder, parsley, pepper, and if desired (for a more lemon taste) lemon pepper. Sprinkle a light amount of salt of the chicken.
• Heat up a skillet on high heat, and add butter and olive oil. Once hot (a sprinkle of water will "sizzle" in the oil), add seasoned chicken breasts.
• Sear chicken on both sides until lightly browned, then remove the chicken from the skillet to a plate (keep burner on high the entire time).
• Add lemon juice to the hot skillet and swirl it around to loosen all the chicken juices and flavor from the pan, but DO NOT DISCARD.
• Add water quickly after lemon juice has picked up the spices. Add bouillon cubes and bring to a boil.
• Stir in corn starch that has been dissolved in 1/2 Celsius cold water.
• Wait for a reboil, and then add the chicken breasts back into the gravy mixture.
• Wait for another reboil and then cover the skillet, and turn the heat to low.
• Let chicken simmer for 15-20 minutes (I usually start rice in the rice maker at this point because our rice only takes about 15-20 minutes to cook, but you'll have to adjust based on your needs and equipment).
• Serve chicken over rice.

LEMON RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add celery and onions; cook until tender. Add rice, lemon zest, salt and pepper; toss lightly. Cook until heated through.

PILAF OF WILD RICE, MUSHROOMS AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Bring stock to boil in medium saucepan.
• Add rice, bay leaf and salt.
• Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until rice is tender, about 30 minutes; drain.
• Melt butter in large heavy skillet over medium-low heat.
• Stir in leeks and thyme.
• Cover and cook until soft, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Mix in mushrooms and sprinkle with salt.
• Cover and cook until mushrooms exude liquid, stirring occasionallly, about 10 minutes.
• Mix in rice and pepper; taste and adjust seasoning.
• Cover and cook until rice has absorbed liquid, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Mix in parsley and serve.