Chicken with Caramelized Onion and Cardamom Rice

Recipe by The View From the Great Island

Chicken with Caramelized Onions and Cardamom Rice, from Jerusalem.

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp olive oil ((divided))
• 1 white or yellow onion (thinly sliced)
• 2 whole chicken legs (drumstick and thigh attached)
• 10 cardamom pods (slightly crushed)
• ¼ tsp whole cloves (rounded)
• 1 long cinnamon stick (broken in 2 or 3 pieces)
• 1⅔ cups basmati rice
• 3 cups boiling water
• handful of parsley leaves (chopped)
• handful of dill (chopped)
• handful of cilantro (chopped)
• ¼ cup currants (plus more for garnish)
• salt and fresh cracked black pepper
• a few currents and some of the fresh herbs for a final garnish

Method

1. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large pan and saute the onions for at east 15 minutes, until they are soft and golden brown. Transfer the onions to a plate.
2. Put the chicken legs in a bowl and cover with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, the cardamom pods, cloves, and cinnamon sticks, a little salt and fresh cracked pepper, and massage everything into the chicken.
3. Heat the pan again and when it is good and hot, put the chicken and spices in, skin side down, to let it sear for 5 minutes on each side. Make sure you get all the oil and spices into the pan along with the chicken. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. (you don't have to remove all the spices)
4. Add the rice and onions to the pan, along with the currents. Add a teaspoon of salt, lots of fresh cracked black pepper, and stir well.
5. Put the chicken back in and squish it down into the rice. Pour the boiling water over everything, and cover the pan. Cook for about 30 minutes on low, until the rice has absorbed the water and is tender. Turn off the heat, raise the lid, cover the top of the pan with a clean dishtowel, put the top back on, and let it sit for 10 minutes.
6. Add the fresh herbs just before serving, and toss into the rice. Check the seasonings, garnish with a few more currants and herbs, and serve.

View the recipe instructions at The View From the Great Island