Description
Mediterranean chicken and orzo recipe offers a delightful journey through Greek culinary traditions. Herbs, lemon, and tender chicken blend seamlessly with perfectly cooked orzo, creating a meal you’ll savor with each flavorful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 3 cups (720 ml) chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) orzo pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup baby spinach
- ½ cup (75 g) crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- ⅓ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Spice Preparation: Craft a vibrant spice blend by thoroughly mixing garlic powder, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl, creating an aromatic seasoning profile.
- Chicken Seasoning: Comprehensively coat both sides of the chicken with the prepared spice mixture, ensuring an even and thorough coverage that will enhance the meat’s flavor complexity.
- Skillet Searing: Heat a large skillet over medium-high temperature, adding a light drizzle of olive oil to create a perfect golden-brown searing environment for the chicken.
- Cooking Process: Carefully place the seasoned chicken into the hot skillet, allowing each side to develop a rich, caramelized exterior while maintaining internal moisture – cooking approximately 5-7 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 75C/165F.
- Finishing Touch: Once cooked to perfection, transfer the chicken to a resting plate and delicately drizzle fresh lemon juice over the surface, brightening the dish with a citrusy zest and allowing the juices to redistribute for maximum tenderness and flavor integration.
Notes
- Balance Spice Blend: Create a personalized spice mix by adjusting ratios to suit your taste preferences, ensuring a balanced and complex flavor profile.
- Control Chicken Moisture: Pat chicken dry before seasoning to promote better browning and prevent steaming, which helps achieve a crispy, golden exterior.
- Monitor Cooking Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to accurately check internal chicken temperature, preventing overcooking and maintaining juicy texture.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute chicken with tofu or plant-based protein for vegetarian version, or use gluten-free orzo for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg