Description
A hearty and flavorful Chicken, Leek & Blue Cheese Pilaf combining nutritious brown basmati rice with tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and a creamy touch of gorgonzola cheese. This easy one-pan stir-fry pilaf makes for a delicious and satisfying meal with a nice balance of textures and savory notes.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice and Seasoning
- 75g brown basmati rice
- 2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder
- 1 bay leaf
Protein
- 2 skinless chicken breast fillets (about 300g), chopped
Vegetables
- 1 leek (about 190g), thinly sliced
- 2 courgettes (about 215g), thinly sliced
- 160g frozen peas
Other
- 1 tsp rapeseed oil
- 4 walnut halves, broken
- 25g gorgonzola, chopped
Instructions
- Cook the Rice: Tip the brown basmati rice into a large pan with 600ml water, vegetable bouillon powder, and bay leaf. Cover the pan, bring it to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 20 minutes.
- Start Stir-Frying Chicken: After the rice has cooked for 10 minutes, heat the rapeseed oil in a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chopped chicken breast and stir-fry for a couple of minutes until the chicken is just cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables: In the same pan, fry the sliced leek until it begins to start coloring. Then add the sliced courgettes and continue stir-frying for a few more minutes. Finally, add the frozen peas and stir to combine.
- Combine Rice and Vegetables: When the rice is ready, tip it into the pan with the vegetables along with any remaining liquid from the rice pan. Return the cooked chicken pieces to the pan or wok. Cover and cook everything together for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in the broken walnut halves and chopped gorgonzola cheese until the cheese melts slightly. Serve the pilaf hot for a comforting meal.
Notes
- Use brown basmati rice for a nuttier flavor and extra fiber.
- The vegetable bouillon powder adds depth, but adjust salt accordingly.
- Gorgonzola cheese can be substituted with any blue cheese of your choice.
- Ensure the chicken is cooked through; you can check with a meat thermometer (internal temperature should reach 75°C/165°F).
- For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and increase vegetable quantities.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: European
Keywords: chicken pilaf, blue cheese, gorgonzola, leek, courgette, brown basmati rice, vegetable stir-fry, quick dinner, healthy pilaf
