CHICKEN WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER, CHORIZO, AND SWEET PEA SAUCE OVER RICE

Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper, Chorizo, and Sweet Pea Sauce over Rice image

This is my chicken and rice recipe number 14,654\. But, this one is as colorful as it is flavorful!

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

3 tablespoons EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 large onion, chopped
Salt and black pepper
1 1/2 cups white rice
3 cups chicken stock
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika, 1/2 palmful
1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/3 palmful
3/4 pound chorizo, halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 small carrot, peeled and grated
2 jarred roasted red peppers, chopped
1 10-ounce box frozen peas
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, a generous handful, chopped

Steps:

Heat a medium-size sauce pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat with 1 tablespoon of the EVOO, once around the pan, and the butter. Add one fourth of the chopped onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 1 minute. Add the rice and stir to coat in the oil. Add 2 1/2 cups of the chicken stock to the rice and bring it up to a simmer. Cover the pot with the lid and turn the heat down to medium low. Cook the rice for 15 to 18 minutes, or until it is tender and cooked through.
While the rice is cooking, start the chicken. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Season the chicken breasts with the paprika, salt, pepper, and the thyme; add the seasoned chicken to the skillet. Cook the breasts for 5 to 6 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the skillet to a plate and loosely cover it with aluminum foil. Return the skillet to the cooktop over medium-high heat and add the chorizo. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the remaining chopped onion, the garlic, carrot, and roasted red peppers to the chorizo and season it with a little salt and pepper. Cook until the onions are slightly tender, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of chicken stock, and scrape up any bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan. Add the frozen peas and parsley; continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes to heat the peas through. Taste and adjust the seasonings with a little salt and pepper.
To serve, arrange the chicken breasts on dinner plates and top them with lots of sauce. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve alongside.