Chicken Pittas with Spicy Rice

Due to a busy weekend and general laziness, this is actually the recipe I cooked on Friday night. However, I’m sure it works just as well on a Tuesday 🙂

When I asked hubby what he would like to eat on Friday, I was given this very specific request “Chicken Pittas with Spicy Rice please”. I have never made such a recipe before, however on delving further realised that this is what he eats whenever we visit a particular popular Portuguese chicken restaurant. I am sure you know the one I’m talking about.

I’d never tried the spicy rice at this restaurant before, and so tried to make it as close as possible to the description I was given by hubby. In the end, it wasn’t spicy in any way whatsoever (but it was delicious) – you could pimp it up with some chilli powder if you wanted to.

This is a great recipe to try when you want a healthier (and cheaper) version of this particular restaurant’s menu!

This will serve up to 4, and will take no more than 30 minutes to make.

Chicken Pittas with Spicy Rice

For the pittas:

4 pittas

1 tbsp olive oil

250g diced chicken breast

1 tbsp smoked paprika

100g halloumi

Lettuce, to serve

For the spicy rice:

500g cooked white rice

3 tbsps tomato puree

1 tbsp smoked paprika

1 tbsp olive oil

3 spring onions

1 red pepper

1. For the spicy rice, heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the sliced spring onions and chopped red peppers and soften for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomato puree, cook for a further minute then add the rice and enough water to loosen it – 200ml should do. Stir in the smoked paprika and cook until heated through – around 7-9 minutes (stir often so that the bottom doesn’t catch).

2. For the chicken pittas, sprinkle the smoked paprika over the chicken along with some salt and pepper. Heat a griddle pan over a high heat, then add the olive oil. When hot, add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often, until cooked through.

3. To serve, slice the pittas and stuff with chicken, finely sliced halloumi and salad. Serve with the rice on the side. Amazing!

Girl and the Kitchen March 17, 2015 / 7:48 pm

This looks so awesome!! I love me some rice 🙂

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- harrietyoung38 March 17, 2015 / 8:07 pm
  
  Thanks Mila! I’ll be publishing the recipe I’ve cooked from your blog for the blog hop tomorrow 🙂
  
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  - Girl and the Kitchen March 17, 2015 / 8:59 pm
    
    Woooo hoooo
    
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Gary A. Roth March 17, 2015 / 8:41 pm

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Please let me know if you would like me to arrange a cooking session.

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sewloveable March 17, 2015 / 8:58 pm

This looks sooo good!!!

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Ritu March 17, 2015 / 9:35 pm

Sounds yum!!

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almond and oat. March 17, 2015 / 11:27 pm

This looks awesome!!

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Moshi Moshi March 18, 2015 / 6:30 am

spicy!! me likey!

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Virginie the Frenchie March 18, 2015 / 7:02 am

I like your cooking but also the way you present your dish…. lovely!

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- harrietyoung38 March 18, 2015 / 12:04 pm
  
  Thanks Virginie 🙂
  
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ForkInPage March 18, 2015 / 8:05 pm

Halloumi you say? I shall try that!!

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Sara March 20, 2015 / 12:11 pm

Yum! Looking forward to trying this!

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