Albanian Baked Chicken and Rice [Tavë me Pulë e Oriz]
Servings: servings
Albanian Baked Chicken and Rice is a comforting and traditional dish featuring searing chicken drumsticks baked with savory rice and peas.
Equipment
Ingredients
The Chicken
- 10 chicken drumsticks
- 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter or extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. paprika
- 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- ½ tsp. cayenne pepper or to taste
The Rice & Vegetables
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 450 g Basmati rice
- 1 L chicken broth or water
- 200 g frozen peas
The Garnish
- 15 g fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
The Preparation
- Gather all your ingredients. Finely chop the 1 yellow onion and mince the 5 garlic cloves. Chop the 15 g fresh parsley.
- In a small bowl, mix together the 1 Tbsp. paprika, 1 Tbsp. dried oregano, 1 tsp. salt, ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper and ½ tsp. cayenne pepper.
- Transfer the mix into a small flat plater. Pat the 10 chicken drumsticks dry with a paper towel and season the drumsticks generously on all sides with this mixture.
The Searing and Sautéing
- Place the Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter.
- Once the butter is melted and foaming, add the seasoned chicken drumsticks in a single layer (work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding). Sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove the seared chicken from the Dutch oven and set it aside on a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped 1 yellow onion to the remaining drippings in the Dutch oven and sauté for about 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Stir in the minced 5 garlic cloves and the 2 Tbsp. tomato paste. Cook for one minute more, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
- Add the uncooked 450 g Basmati rice to the pot and stir for about 2 minutes to toast the grains and coat them completely in the mixture.
The Assembly and Baking
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Pour the 1 L chicken broth into the Dutch oven and stir to combine everything, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer on the stovetop.
- Stir in the 200 g frozen peas. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. This step is very important depending if you are using salted or unsalted broth.
- Arrange the seared chicken drumsticks on top of the rice mixture.
- Cover the Dutch oven with its lid and carefully transfer it to the preheated oven. Bake for 35 minutes, until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Remove the lid and continue to bake, uncovered, for another 5-10 minutes to allow the chicken skin to become crispier.
The Serving
- Carefully remove the Dutch oven from the oven and let it rest, covered, for 5-10 minutes. Fluff the rice around the chicken with a fork, sprinkle with 15 g fresh parsley, and serve immediately. Enjoy the Albanian Baked Chicken and Rice [Tavë me Pulë e Oriz].