Instant Pot Chicken with Yellow Peppers, Gentle Saffron Rice and Crunchy Almonds

Name: Instant Pot Chicken with Yellow Peppers, Gentle Saffron Rice and Crunchy Almonds
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 24 min
Total time: 44 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Fusión mediterránea
Ingredients: 1.3 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1 1/4 cups long-grain rice; 2 whole yellow bell pepper; 1 medium onion; 4 cloves garlic; 1 cup carrot; 2 cups chicken broth; 1/2 tsp saffron threads; 2 tsp sweet paprika; 1 tsp ground cumin; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1/3 cup sliced almonds; 1/4 cup fresh parsley; 1 tsp lemon zest; 1 tbsp lemon juice

An original Instant Pot dish with juicy chicken thighs, sweet yellow peppers, fragrant rice infused with gentle saffron, and a finishing touch of toasted almonds and parsley. Comforting, colorful, and easy enough for a weeknight.

20 minPrep

24 minCook

44 minTotal

4Servings

High Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

600 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut en trozos large)
240 g long-grain rice (enjuagado)
2 units yellow bell pepper (in strips)
150 g onion (chopped fina)
4 cloves garlic (chopped)
120 g carrot (en cubitos small)
480 ml chicken broth (low sodium if possible)
0.25 g saffron threads (machacadas lightly)
4 g sweet paprika
2 g ground cumin
30 ml olive oil
6 g salt (or to taste)
2 g black pepper (freshly ground)
35 g sliced almonds (tostadas)
15 g fresh parsley (chopped)
1 tsp lemon zest (finely grated)
15 ml lemon juice

Nutrition facts

per serving

542 kcal

Calories

33 g

Protein

42 g

Carbs

25 g

Fat

4 g

Fiber

38 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

Tree Nuts

Instructions

1
1. Season the chicken thighs with the salt, black pepper, sweet paprika, and ground cumin.
2
2. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté on high heat. Add the olive oil and brown the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring once, until lightly colored. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
3
3. Add the onion and carrot to the pot and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more, stirring so it does not burn.
4
4. Add the yellow peppers and cook for 1 minute. Add the rinsed rice and stir for 30 seconds so it gets well coated with the aromatics.
5
5. Pour in the chicken broth, then add the saffron threads, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Scrape the bottom of the pot well with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits.
6
6. Return the chicken and any collected juices to the pot, arranging them over the rice without stirring too much.
7
7. Lock the lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. Then let it rest for 10 minutes with natural release, and carefully release the remaining pressure.
8
8. Open the lid, gently fluff the rice with a fork, and let it sit for 2 more minutes if it needs to absorb a little more liquid.
9
9. Serve hot, finished with the toasted sliced almonds and chopped fresh parsley on top.
10
10. If you want extra color and crunch, toast the almonds in a skillet or in the oven at 350°F/175°C for 4 to 6 minutes before serving, watching closely so they do not burn.

Chef tips

For fluffier rice, rinse it until the water runs almost clear. Do not stir too much once the broth is added, so the rice does not release too much starch.

Substitutions

You can use turkey thigh instead of chicken. The almonds can be replaced with sunflower seeds if you want to avoid tree nuts. Parsley can be swapped for cilantro for a fresher profile.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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Illustrative image
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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