One-Skillet
CHICKEN & RICE BAKE
By Lila Lerie @ thebigtastybite
This is an extract from The Big Tasty Bite by Lila Lerie, published by Penguin Random House South Africa, retailing at R420.
Serves 4
What You ' ll Need
• 8 chicken pieces( thighs & drumsticks)
• 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 1½ teaspoons onion powder
• 1½ teaspoons Spanish smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, diced
• 2 green chillies, roughly chopped
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 small head broccoli, roughly chopped
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cups uncooked jasmine rice
• 1½ cups lukewarm chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• juice of ½ lemon
• ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Let ' s Cook 1. Preheat the oven to 180 ° C. 2. Place the chicken pieces in a bowl with ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon salt. Toss to coat the chicken well and set aside.
3. Heat the olive oil in an ovenproof skillet or saucepan over mediumhigh heat and sauté the remaining garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika until fragrant. Then add the garlic, chillies, and onion and sauté until the garlic begins to change colour. Add the tomato paste and continue cooking until it darkens.
4. Add the bell peppers, broccoli, celery, and cherry tomatoes, and sauté for 5 – 8 minutes or until the tomatoes begin to soften. Remove the skillet from the heat. 5. Rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear, then drain and add the rice, chicken stock, soy sauce, lemon juice, basil, black pepper, and remaining salt to the skillet. Mix well, then place the chicken pieces on top, skin-side up, and cover with foil.
6. Bake for 35 minutes, then remove the foil and brush the chicken pieces with olive oil before baking, uncovered, for an additional 30 – 40 minutes. You’ ll know it’ s done when the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
7. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
essentialflavours. co. za • Spring 2026 | 49