pule me oriz (albanian chicken & rice)

Recipe by
Lori L (JostLori)
San Diego

Every country has a chicken and rice dish, and this is an Albanian version. It's simple comfort food! I would save some dishwashing time by cooking the entire thing in a Le Creuset Dutch oven, which goes from stove to oven easily. I bet this could also be made in an Instant Pot. Recipe from an Albanian cookbook that is badly translated - but from the ingredients I'm sure this will taste like the Pilaf I ate while there. With fries, of course.

yield 8 -10
prep time 10 Min
cook time 45 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For pule me oriz (albanian chicken & rice)

  • 3 lb
    chicken thighs or drumsticks (or both)
  • 1 Tbsp
    sweet paprika
  • 1/4 tsp
    salt and pepper, each
  • 2 c
    basmati rice
  • 1
    onion, minced
  • 2 Tbsp
    unsalted butter
  • 1 Tbsp
    olive oil
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp
    freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 c
    chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 pinch
    saffron

How To Make pule me oriz (albanian chicken & rice)

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 350 F. Using a strainer, wash the rice. Leave in the strainer and let drain until called for in the recipe.
  • 2
    In a small bowl, combine the paprika, salt, and pepper. Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Rub the chicken all over with the paprika mixture.
  • 3
    Melt the butter with the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large lidded oven-proof skillet. Brown the chicken on all sides, remove from pan and set aside.
  • 4
    In the same pan, add the onion and cook over medium heat until translucent and starting to turn golden. Add the drained rice and stir until it is lightly toasted. Carefully add the broth to the pan and bring to a boil.
  • 5
    Nestle the chicken pieces in the rice. Season with salt, pepper to taste, and the pinch of saffron. Cover tightly and bake for 35 minutes.
  • 6
    Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes, covered. Remove cover and fluff rice with a fork. Serve.

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