This chicken rice with tomato, basil and mozzarella recipe appeared in last month's Delicious magazine.
The end result has the unmistakable delicious fresh flavour combination of tomato, basil and mozzarella. Add to that, olives, peppers, pesto and chicken with rice, and you have a dish that's guaranteed to banish the last remnants of those winter blues.
Honestly, this is one of those dishes that you will enjoy any time of the year...I'm looking forward to enjoying it outside in the garden with a glass (or 2!) of white wine...
Tips
- Time saver – use shop bought pesto, if you like, and just loosen it with a little olive oil to make it easier to drizzle.
- This chicken rice with tomato, basil and mozzarella recipe is easily adapted if you’re cooking for less or more people.
Recent New Recipes
Category Spotlight...
SOUPS
There's nothing better than a bowl of hearty warming soup during the cold autumn and winter months. You'll find a delicious selection of chunky and smooth, full of flavour soups here!!
How to make this Chicken Rice with Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella
Ingredients
- olive oil, for frying
- 500g skinless boneless chicken thighs, roughly chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped
- 1 red chilli, deseeded and sliced (optional)
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
- a pinch of salt
- 125ml white wine
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 thyme sprigs
- 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 600ml chicken stock (made using a stock pot or cube)
- 50g pitted black olives
- 350g long grain rice
- 100g mozzarella, torn
For the pesto (see Tips):
- 1 tbsp pine nuts
- 0.5 clove garlic
- 15g parmesan, finely grated
- half a bunch of basil, chopped, plus extra to garnish
- 80ml olive oil
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- a dash lemon juice or cider vinegar
Instructions
- Put a large saucepan or casserole (one with a lid) over a medium high heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the chicken and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, then lift out and set aside.
- Add another glug of oil followed by the onion, pepper, chilli (if using) and garlic with a pinch of salt. Turn the heat down to low medium and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often.
- Put the chicken back in the pan along with the wine and herbs. Leave to simmer for 3 minutes until reduced by half, then add the chopped tomatoes, stock and olives. Turn the heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the rice and simmer for a further 10 minutes uncovered.
- Meanwhile, make a quick pesto by grinding the pine nuts, garlic, parmesan and chopped basil into a paste in a pestle and mortar (or pulse briefly in a small food processor). Stir in the oil, then taste and season with salt, pepper and a dash of lemon juice or cider vinegar.
- Scatter the mozzarella over the rice, then cover and leave to gently cook for a final 5 minutes. Drizzle over the pesto, garnish with basil leaves and serve.
Recipe Collection Spotlight...
7 TASTY STEWS FOR AUTUMN
Stews are hearty, comforting and warming with autumn being the perfect time to start making them! Dive into the warmth of home-cooked goodness and discover your new favourite comfort food from one of the 7 recipes I've selected here:
Did you make this recipe?
I’d love to hear how it went…both good and bad!
Please go to the bottom of the page to rate the recipe and/or leave your comments.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It would also be great if you could take a photo and tag #FellyBull on social media, thanks.
Subscribe to receive our new and highlighted recipes in your email inbox each week...plus receive our new e-Cookbook for free!!!
✉️
Chicken Rice with Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella
Ingredients
- olive oil for frying
- 500 g (1.1 lb) skinless boneless chicken thighs roughly chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 red pepper deseeded and chopped
- 1 red chilli deseeded and sliced (optional)
- 4 cloves garlic sliced
- a pinch of salt
- 125 ml (½ cup) white wine
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 thyme sprigs
- 400 g (14.1 oz) chopped tomatoes
- 600 ml (2 ½ cups) chicken stock (made using a stock pot or cube)
- 50 g (1.8 oz) pitted black olives
- 350 g (12.3 oz) long grain rice
- 100 g (3.5 oz) mozzarella torn
For the pesto (see Notes):
- 1 tbsp pine nuts
- 0.5 clove garlic
- 15 g (0.5 oz) parmesan finely grated
- half a bunch of basil chopped, plus extra to garnish
- 80 ml (⅓ cup) olive oil
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- a dash lemon juice or cider vinegar
Instructions
- Put a large saucepan or casserole (one with a lid) over a medium high heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the chicken and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, then lift out and set aside.
- Add another glug of oil followed by the onion, pepper, chilli (if using) and garlic with a pinch of salt. Turn the heat down to low medium and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often.
- Put the chicken back in the pan along with the wine and herbs. Leave to simmer for 3 minutes until reduced by half, then add the chopped tomatoes, stock and olives. Turn the heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the rice and simmer for a further 10 minutes uncovered.
- Meanwhile, make a quick pesto by grinding the pine nuts, garlic, parmesan and chopped basil into a paste in a pestle and mortar (or pulse briefly in a small food processor). Stir in the oil, then taste and season with salt, pepper and a dash of lemon juice or cider vinegar.
- Scatter the mozzarella over the rice, then cover and leave to gently cook for a final 5 minutes. Drizzle over the pesto, garnish with basil leaves and serve.
Notes
- Time saver – use shop bought pesto, if you like, and just loosen it with a little olive oil to make it easier to drizzle.
- This chicken rice with tomato, basil and mozzarella recipe is easily adapted if you’re cooking for less or more people.
You might also like to try:
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
LEAVE A COMMENT AND RATE THIS RECIPE