Savory Southern Smothered Chicken (Printable Version)

Golden seared chicken thighs cooked in a flavorful gravy with veggies, served on perfectly steamed white rice.

# Ingredients Required:

→ Protein

01 - 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

→ Grains

02 - 200 grams long-grain white rice

→ Liquids

03 - 480 milliliters chicken broth

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 medium onion, diced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 100 grams sliced mushrooms
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Fats and Oils

08 - 15 milliliters olive oil

→ Thickeners and Spices

09 - 16 grams all-purpose flour
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
13 - 1 teaspoon salt
14 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

→ Garnish

15 - Fresh parsley, as needed (optional)

# Guide to Cooking:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne if desired. Place chicken skin-side down in hot oil and sear for 5 to 6 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add diced onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in sliced mushrooms and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle all-purpose flour over the vegetables and stir well, cooking for 1 minute to form the roux.
04 - Gradually pour in chicken broth while stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until gravy thickens.
05 - Return the seared chicken thighs to the skillet, nestling them into the gravy. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until chicken is thoroughly cooked and tender.
06 - While chicken simmers, bring 480 milliliters of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add rice and a pinch of salt, stir, cover, and reduce to low heat. Simmer for 18 to 20 minutes until rice is fluffy and water is absorbed.
07 - Plate the cooked rice and top with the smothered chicken thighs. Spoon additional gravy over the dish and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

# Extra Suggestions:

01 - For extra heat, include cayenne pepper during seasoning. Ensure rice water is fully absorbed before serving for ideal texture.

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