Easy Blackened Chicken with Cilantro Rice

This is a really great summer dish!! The flavors are amazing and if you use the avocado sauce the combination gets even better! I know that blackening meat can be a bit scary but this is a really easy way to do it without ending with leather stripes in your mouth, or a black kitchen. The trick it to keep an eye on the chicken while in the oven and take it out just in time, that way you'll have a really juicy piece of poultry with a really tasty and spicy crust.

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:

• 2 chicken breasts halved
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika powder
• 1/4 teaspon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon olive or vegetable oil

For the rice:

• 1 Cup Rice 
• 2 Cups Chicken Stok
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Juice and Zest from Two Limes
• A Dash of Salt and Pepper
• 2 Tablespoons of Cilantro, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C.
2. Combine all dry ingredients and rub on both sides of the chicken, let it marinate for at least one hour.
3. Add the teaspoon of olive oil to a large pan or skillet. Heat the olive oil for a minute over high heat. Add the chicken breasts to the pan. Cook for a couple of minutes on each side.
4. Place the chicken on a greased baking dish and bake for 5-10 minutes, check it from time to time to avoid drying it out.
5. In a medium sauce pan add the chicken stock, butter and rice. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat and cook for ten to fifteen minutes with the lid on, until all the stock has been absorbed.
6. Add the warm rice to a large bowl. Toss in the lime zest, lime juice, salt and pepper, and chopped cilantro. Mix to combine.
7. Serve the chicken sliced on a bed of rice.

Tip: The chicken can be a bit spicy for some people, you can add a very simple avocado sauce to take some of the heath off: place the flesh from an avocado along with two tablespoons of Greek yogurt (or sour cream) in a food processor and puree until smooth. Pour over the chicken. You can also use the chicken as filling for a nice sandwich.