This one-pot chicken and rice casserole with wild mushrooms and chestnuts is packed with flavour. A fantastic comfort food dish the whole family will love.
100g| 3.5oz wild mushroomsroughly chopped or left whole (I used chanterelles)
230g| 8.1oz white & wild long grain rice mix
200g| 7oz cooked chestnutsroughly chopped
500ml| 2 cups hot chicken stock
6tbspKikkoman soy sauce
2tbsphoney
a handful fresh thyme sprigs + more to serve
2tbspbutter
2tbspolive oil
2bay leaves
salt and freshly ground pepper to season
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180C (350F) and prepare all your vegetables. Combine the soy sauce and honey.
Heat the casserole over high heat. Once it is hot, lower the temperature to medium and add the oil. Brown the chicken legs on all sides for a few minutes. Set aside.
Turn the heat to medium-low, add the butter to the casserole and scrape any browned bits of chicken from the bottom of the pot using a wooden spoon.
Toss in the shallots and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until slightly softened.
Add the rice and stir to coat in the butter. Add the mushrooms and chestnuts and stir to combine. Add the stock and bay leaves; bring to a simmer.
Position the chicken legs on top of the rice and then drizzle with the honey & soy sauce.
Sprinkle with some thyme, season with pepper and cover.
Place in the oven and cook for 45 minutes.
Take the lid off and cook for a further 15 minutes or until the chicken skin gets a little colour. If all the stock has been absorbed then add a splash of water if needed.
Sprinkle with some more thyme leaves, check the seasoning, and serve.
Notes
You can use any large, lidded casserole (Dutch oven) for this recipe. If you can't find fresh wild mushrooms you can use dried porcini. Rehydrate first in hot water.