Pomegranate Chicken and Rice is the perfect dish to try when you are looking for easy and comforting meals. This one-pan dinner has tender, juicy chicken marinated in a strong flavor of pomegranate molasses, sumac, cumin, and smoked paprika that make your dinner perfect.
The taste and flavor of this dish are like Middle Eastern cooking, combining pomegranate molasses and sumac. The spices and slightly sweet taste balance the flavors of this recipe, and it becomes more delicious with the chicken juices.
You can try this recipe whether preparing a simple iftar during Ramadan or a weeknight dinner, this dish is perfect. It is easy to prepare, can be cooked in one pan, and you will feel the Middle Eastern-inspired recipe taste.
Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
- Chicken leg quarters
- Lemon
- Olive oil
- Pomagrante molasses
- Allspice
- Cumin
- Sumac
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Rice
- Washed rice
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Bay leaves
- Chicken bouillon
- Turmeric
- Frozen carrots and peas
- Hot water
- Salt
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Making this Pomegranate Chicken and Rice is simple and satisfying. The recipe layers the flavors that start with a marinade of pomegranate molasses, aromatic spices, and fresh lemon. When the chicken cooks, the spices have an aroma and the meat becomes juicy. It is a perfect pairing with seasoned rice and tastes like a Middle Eastern kitchen. Follow the steps below to bring this easy one-pan recipe together.
Hint: For the perfect flavor, make sure that the marinade is rubbed thoroughly over the chicken and the spices are evenly coated.
Variations
- Spicy version - add chili flakes or cayenne pepper to the marinade if you want something spicy version and balances the sweet flavor of pomegranate molasses.
- Boneless Chicken Version- Instead of chicken leg quarters, you can use boneless chicken thighs or breast so the cooking is faster. Reduce the baking time since the boneless is quicker than the leg quarters. This step can also absorb the flavors to the marinade as well.
- Brown Rice or Shirataki Rice - Swap the regular rice with brown rice if you want a healthier option, just increase the cooking time and water slightly. If you want a diet-friendly version, you may use shirataki rice (rinse and sauté or mix the rice with butter and spices). These options also work, they give you a healthier version without losing the flavors of this dish.
