Spiced spatchcock chicken, quince glaze and bejewelled rice
Spatchcocking a chicken makes it much quicker to cook – this flavourful chicken and rice can be on the table in less than an hour.
Ingredients
For the spiced spatchcock chicken
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 heaped tbsp baharat (or ½ tbsp mix of cumin, paprika, ginger, clove, cinnamon and cayenne)
- 1 medium chicken, spatchcocked
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the chicken glaze
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú membrillo (quince paste)
- 100ml/3½fl oz apple juice
For the bejewelled vermicelli rice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú cut vermicelli
- 425g/15oz basmati rice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú butter, plus extra for serving
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú dried apricots, chopped
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú dried cranberries, chopped
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú toasted pine nuts
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú slivered pistachios
To serve
- 15g/½oz fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú pomegranate seeds
Method
Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Mix the oil and baharat in a bowl, then brush all over the chicken. Roast for 45 minutes, adjusting this timing depending on the size of the chicken.
Meanwhile, to make the chicken glaze, combine the membrillo and apple juice in a saucepan and simmer over a medium heat until it boils down to a glaze consistency (this should be about 4–5 tablespoons of liquid). Season the glaze with salt and pepper and set aside until the chicken is cooked.
To make the jewelled rice, place a saucepan with a lid over a medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the onion and cook until softened and translucent, then add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the vermicelli, stir well and toast until it turns golden brown.
Add the rice, spices, butter and a generous amount of salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until the vermicelli is evenly coated in the melted butter and spices. Pour in 600ml/21fl oz cold water and stir again, then cover the pan with the lid, reduce to a very gentle simmer and cook for 30–35 minutes, or until the rice on top is cooked and fluffy.
Fluff the rice up with a fork and add a few extra knobs of butter. Fold in the chopped apricots, dried chopped cranberries, toasted pine nuts and pistachios.
When the chicken is cooked, brush the chicken with the glaze as it rests. Serve the chicken with a flourish of chopped parsley and pomegranate seeds, and the rice on the side. Alternatively you can cut the chicken into portions.
