Preparing The Tomato Sauce: Begin by crafting a luscious tomato sauce. In a saucepan, pour in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat it over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté it for about 30 seconds until it releases its delightful fragrance.
Tomato Sauce Continued: Next, introduce the crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce to the saucepan. It’s time to get creative with your flavors! Season the sauce with dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Let this simmer away on low heat for about 15-20 minutes, giving it a good stir occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the flavors dance together. Once that’s done, set the sauce aside for later.
Cooking The Chicken: Now, let’s move on to the star of our dish – the chicken. In a large skillet, heat up some olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the finely chopped onion and sauté it for a few minutes until it turns translucent, creating a delightful base for your dish.
Flavoring The Chicken: Time to bring in some Mediterranean charm! Stir in the minced garlic, dried oregano, and dried thyme, letting the kitchen fill with their enticing aroma. This step takes about a minute.
Searing The Chicken: Add your chicken pieces to the skillet and let them sizzle away until they boast a beautiful golden-brown hue. It usually takes around 3-4 minutes per side.
Chicken And Broth: Now, it’s time to introduce the chicken broth to the skillet. Bring it to a gentle simmer, reduce the heat, and cover the skillet. Let the chicken bathe in this savory broth for approximately 15-20 minutes or until it’s perfectly cooked through, with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Rice And Tomatoes: While the chicken is doing its thing, take a moment to rinse your rice under cold water until it runs clear. This ensures that your rice will be fluffy and delicious.
Combining Everything: After the chicken is thoroughly cooked, remove it from the skillet and keep it aside. In the same skillet, add the rinsed rice and the chopped tomatoes. Stir them in, allowing the rice to soak up the delicious flavors.
Bringing It All Together: Here comes the pièce de résistance – pour the tomato sauce you prepared earlier over the rice and give it a gentle mix. If necessary, you can add a bit more chicken broth to ensure the rice is comfortably submerged in the liquid.
Chicken Reunion: Gently nestle the chicken back into the skillet, letting it become best friends with the rice and sauce. Cover the skillet and let it all simmer for another 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender, having absorbed all the aromatic flavors.
Taste And Garnish: Before serving, give your Greek chicken and rice with tomato sauce a taste test. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. For a final touch, garnish with fresh herbs like chopped parsley or some fresh oregano to enhance the overall presentation.
