Masala Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Bowl

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 5 min
  • Active: 50 min
A common practice in India, juicy cuts of chicken get marinated in a flavorful yogurt mix to deepen the flavors. Broiled cauliflower helps bulk up these rice bowls, stretching 2 chicken breasts to feed 4 people.
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Ingredients

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 English cucumber, seeded and diced

Lemon wedges, for serving

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 12 ounces total)

2 cups plain whole-fat yogurt

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 teaspoons curry powder

2 teaspoons finely grated ginger

1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated garlic

Kosher salt

4 cups bite-size cauliflower florets (about 8 ounces)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 cups basmati or other long-grain rice

1/4 cup tomato paste

4 wide strips lemon zest

Directions

  1. Sandwich the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound them out until just under 1/2-inch thick all over. Whisk together 1 cup of the yogurt, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice, 2 teaspoons of the curry powder, 1 teaspoon of the grated ginger, 1/2 teaspoon of the grated garlic and 2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl. Transfer half of the yogurt marinade to another medium bowl. Cut 5 diagonal shallow slits on both sides of each chicken breast and place them in one of the bowls. Place the cauliflower florets in the other bowl. Toss both to coat, and then marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes.
  2. Melt the butter in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Add the rice, the remaining 1 teaspoon curry powder, 1 teaspoon ginger and 1 teaspoon garlic, and stir until fragrant and the rice is yellow, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and stir for about 30 seconds. Add 2 3/4 cups water, the lemon zest strips and 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low. Give the rice a quick stir to scrape up any bits stuck on the bottom. Cover and cook until the rice is tender and absorbs the liquid, 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, then fluff the rice with a fork and cover again for 5 minutes. Then remove and discard the lemon zest.
  3. Mix together 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, the cucumber, the remaining 1 cup yogurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
  4. Preheat a broiler with a rack set 4 inches from the heating element. Line two small baking sheets or skillets with foil. Place the chicken on one baking sheet and the cauliflower on the other. Broil until the chicken is charred in spots, firm and has no visible pinkness inside, and the cauliflower is charred and tender, 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the chicken and tossing the cauliflower halfway through. Slice the chicken breasts and sprinkle lightly with salt.
  5. Divide the rice among four bowls. Top each with some chicken, cauliflower, cucumber-yogurt sauce, lemon wedges and the remaining chopped cilantro.

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Bren907AK

Agree there was too much salt, especially in the cucumber-yogurt sauce. Otherwise I thought this was pretty good and will likely make it again.

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