CHICKEN AND BROWN RICE WITH ANDOUILLE OR CHORIZO

Braden Family Cookbook

Chuck Braden

Chicken and Brown Rice with Andouille or Chorizo Saveur-inspired

SERVES 6

Similar to arroz con pollo, the classic Spanish and Latin American specialty.

2 1⁄2 lbs. bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (6 big thighs)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper,
   to taste
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
3⁄4 lb. smoked, dried chorizo, cut into
   1"-thick slices (you may substitute Andouille sausage)
2 tbsp. roughly chopped fresh oregano
1⁄2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
1 1⁄2 cups short or long-grain brown rice (I prefer the short grain, un-rinsed)
1⁄2 cup white wine
3 roasted red bell peppers, peeled, seeded,
   and cut into thick strips about 1” wide (you may substitute bottled peppers)
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup frozen peas

1. Heat oven to 400°. Season the chicken lightly with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a 4-quart dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the chicken, skin side down, and cook, without turning, until the skin is a deep golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside. (Pour off and discard any accumulated fat and juices.) Add the chorizo and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer chorizo to a plate, leaving the fat behind in the dutch oven. Set chorizo aside.

2. Add oregano, red pepper, garlic, onion, and bay leaf to the dutch oven and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is lightly browned and somewhat soft, about 8 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring frequently, until surface is glossy, about 2 minutes. Add wine, bring to a boil while stirring often, and reduce by half, about 1 minute. Nestle chicken, chorizo, and peppers into rice mixture. Pour in broth and season liquid to taste with salt and pepper. Cover the dutch oven and bring to a boil over high heat. Transfer to the oven and bake until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

3. Remove the dish from oven, uncover, and gently stir in the peas with a fork. Let sit for 10 minutes, covered, to allow the flavors to meld. This is not so good as a leftover as the peas tend to be mushy when re-heated