Sicilian-Style Chicken & Spinach Rice
with Basil Pesto & Olives
- Milk
- Wheat
- Gluten
- Soy
- May contain traces of allergens
First, fluffy spinach-laced rice sets the foundations of this bright bowl. Layered on top are some tasty veggies, stewed in a passata sauce that accompanies the tender chicken so well. And to finish it all off, a drizzle of fresh basil pesto acts as the final touch.
Ingredients
1 packet
basmati rice
(May be present: Wheat, Gluten, Soy)
1
carrot
1
zucchini
1 packet
kalamata olives
1 packet
chicken thigh
1 box
passata
1 bag
baby spinach leaves
1 packet
basil pesto
(Contains: Milk)
1 sachet
Nan's special seasoning
Not included in your delivery
olive oil
1.5 cup
water
1 tsp
brown sugar
Ā¼ tsp
salt
Utensils
Cooking Steps
ā¢ In a medium saucepan, add the water and bring to the boil. ā¢ Add basmati rice, stir, cover with a lid and reduce heat to low. ā¢ Cook for 10 minutes, then remove pan from heat and keep covered until rice is tender and water is absorbed, 10 minutes.
TIP: The rice will finish cooking in its own steam, so don't peek!
ā¢ Meanwhile, thinly slice carrot into half-moons. ā¢ Cut zucchini into bite-sized chunks. ā¢ Roughly chop kalamata olives. ā¢ In a medium bowl, combine chicken thigh, Nan's special seasoning and a drizzle of olive oil.
ā¢ In a large frying pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. ā¢ Cook chicken thigh until browned, 2 minutes each side. Transfer to a plate.
TIP: This chicken will finish cooking in step 4!
ā¢ Return frying pan to medium-high heat with a drizzle of olive oil. Cook carrot and zucchini, tossing, until tender, 4-5 minutes. ā¢ Reduce heat to medium-low and add passata, kalamata olives, the brown sugar, the salt and a splash of water. Stir to combine. ā¢ Top with chicken and cover with a lid or foil. Simmer until chicken is cooked through, 8-12 minutes.
TIP: Chicken is cooked through when it is no longer pink inside.
ā¢ Once rice is cooked, stir in baby spinach leaves until wilted and combined. Season to taste.
ā¢ Divide spinach rice and Sicilian-style chicken between plates. ā¢ Top with basil pesto to serve. Enjoy!
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on July 2026- Flavour:Ā The Sicilian-style sauce and seasoned chicken were widely praised, though opinions on the olives and pesto were mixed. Some found the combination of strong flavours clashing, while others loved the bold, authentic taste.
- Ease of prep:Ā Most found this straightforward to prepare and cook, with a few noting the chicken took longer to cook through than the instructions suggested.
- Suggestions:Ā Keep a close eye on the heat when simmering the chicken covered, as one reviewer found it charred quickly at medium-low. Some suggested reducing the olives if you prefer a lighter sauce, and leaving out the pesto is an easy option for those who find it overpowering.
- Leftovers:Ā The dish fed a family of three for lunch with enough to go around, suggesting generous portions.
- Customisation:Ā A few reviewers swapped carrot for chopped capsicum and found it suited the Mediterranean flavours well. One reviewer tried the chicken in a slow cooker and found it turned out very tender with great results.
