Spicy chicken with wheat berries
Ingredients
| For the cooking | For the marinade |
|---|---|
| 1 cup wheat berries | 3 cloves of garlic, minced |
| 2 chicken breasts | 1 tbsp vinegar |
| 2 tbsp oil (1+1) | ½ tsp turmeric powder |
| 1 onion | ½ tsp paprika |
| ¼ cup coriander leaves | ½ tsp oregano |
| 3 cloves garlic | ½ chilli flakes |
| 5 shallots | ½ tsp salt |
| ½ bell pepper | ¼ tsp black pepper |
| 1 tomato, chopped | 1 tbsp Valentina (or any other hot sauce) |
| 4 cups of water (2+2) | |
| 1 chicken bouillon cube |
Cooking Notes
This dish is fulfilling in all aspects – with the spice from the hot sauce, the characteristic chewy texture of the wheat berry, and the juicy marinated chicken.
Wheat berries are a highly nutritious grain that offers several health benefits. With their bran, germ, and endosperm intact, it is an excellent source of dietary fiber. However, if you’re not a fan of their nutty chewiness, you can replace it with rice or quinoa, and just alter the cooking time accordingly. Read more about wheat berries here.
Makes about 4 portions.
Method
- Wash and soak the wheat berries in 2 cups of water, preferably for 30 minutes.
- Chop the chicken into bite-size pieces. Add all the ingredients for the marinade to the chicken, mix well, and set aside for 15 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a deep skillet on medium. Once hot, add the chicken, and cook for 4-5 minutes till it browns. Remove from the pan and keep aside.
- Run the onion, coriander leaves, garlic, shallots, and bell pepper in a food processor to dice and mix well.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet and sauté the ground vegetables on medium until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the diced tomato and cook for another minute.
- Add the drained wheat berries, and stir for 1 minute.
- Add the remaining 2 cups of water. Crush and add the bouillon cube, and make sure it dissolves nicely. Add ½ tsp of salt if needed (usually the stock cubes have salt).
- Once the pot starts simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover and allow it to cook for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, add the chicken, mix with the wheat berries nicely, and put the lid back on. Cook for another 30 minutes. Ready to serve!
