Scarletts Chicken And Rice Food

SCARLETT'S CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Place bird breast side up in a large, heavy bottomed pot, along with the split onion, thyme and bay leaf. Cover the bird, just barely, with cool water. Add 2 tablespoons salt and 2 teaspoons black pepper to the pot. Cover and bring it up to a simmer.. Cook for about an hour or until the bird is "falling to pieces." If using a typical young chicken, it will not take longer than an hour and a half. If it is a laying hen, it could take up to 5 hours.. Once the bird is "falling to pieces," turn off the heat and let it rest in the broth for 30 minutes. Remove and reserve the bird. Discard the onion, bay leaf and thyme.. Tear the chicken meat into medium pieces and add it back to the pot. Bring the broth and chicken up to a simmer. Add the rice. Resist the urge to rinse the rice, as the starch helps make the broth rich and homey.. Cook rice for about 12 minutes, though depending on the variety or brand, time could vary. The rice should be just cooked through and hold its shape. Turn off the heat. Add butter. Taste for seasoning and adjust with additional salt or pepper.

THE BEST CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Toss the chicken with the paprika, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Place the chicken skin-side down in the skillet and cook undisturbed until the skin is golden but not too dark, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate using a metal spatula and add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet.
• Add the carrots, celery and shallots to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not yet turning golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, thyme, oregano, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook just until you begin to smell the garlic, about 1 minute. Stir in the rice and cook undisturbed until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Pour in the broth, add 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir to combine, then add the chicken thighs back to the pan, skin-side up. Bring the liquid to a boil then cover, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the lid from the pan and broil until the chicken skin is crispy and golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the chives.