More often than not, a healthy and delicious meal can be difficult and time-consuming to make. However, this deceptively simple recipe brings the exquisite flavours of Italy to your dining table with a healthy twist that only enhances its flavour profile. It also serves four, which is perfect for a family dinner or meal prepping!
Ingredients
- 2 pieces of chicken breast (you can use more or less depending how much chicken you like) cleaned and diced.
- 200g peeled and cubed pumpkin
- 150g baby spinach
- 2 cups rice
- 1 litre of chicken stock
- Half a brown onion chopped finely
- 1 clove of garlic, crushed
- 2tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Chilli flakes, oregano and fresh parsley
Method
- Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté finely chopped onion until lightly cooked and softened. Then, add crushed garlic and stir for approximately 20 seconds.
- Add chicken breasts and cook until browned. Be sure to keep mixing everything together to avoid burning.
- Once browned, remove from pan and place in a bowl. Cover and set aside for later, or get a kitchen helper to shred it for easier mixing-in for later.
- Add the rice to the pan and very quickly cover it, and toast in oil for about 30 seconds.
- Add 1 litre of chicken stock to the pan and stir through.
- Once the stock has been absorbed, add cubed pumpkin. Stir this through and allow to cook.
- Reintroduce the chicken and stir through.
- Add spinach and stir through until wilted.
- Add seasoning as preferred. A good spice mix we recommend is chilli flakes, oregano and fresh parsley. Use salt and pepper to augment the flavour to your liking.
- Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese if you like and enjoy!
Note: Taste testing is very important with risotto because you want all the flavours to blend and harmonise with each other. If you want the rice a bit more cooked, then add more liquid and cook for a few more minutes. Alternatively, if there is still too much liquid, you can cover the whole pot with a lid and let it absorb for 2 minutes. Rice can absorb and continue to cook in the heat without having the stove on.