Do keep in mind that the below is only a guide on what to put into your cooking and not how much to put as the amount to use is dependent on the number of people you are cooking for. When cooking, we often use "estimates" and never "exacts" as flavour and taste vary between persons.
So, put what you think is good for you.
| Ingredients:
Rice
Chicken fillets Fresh basil leaves Garlic Salt Soy Sauce
Chili Flakes
Oyster Sauce Corn Starch French Beans* Olives* Mixed Herbs* Eggs* |
 |
| Dinner is served! |
Ready? Let the cooking begin!
Start Time: 8.19pm.
The first thing you need to do is to cook your rice. Cooking rice usually takes about 30 minutes and another 10-15 mintues for the water to be absorbed or evaporated (so that they are no longer sticking to the pot when you scope them). While you wait for the rice to cook, prepare your main dish. I will skip this step since I still have some leftover frozen rice from before.
Prepare the raw materials
I always chop the garlic first when preparing my ingredients to reduce the effects of garlic odour on my hands.
Wash the basil leaves and shred them. Mince the chicken. For tastier meat, marinate your minced chicken with some salt, soy sauce and mixed herbs (if using). Remember, how much to put, is up to you - more does not necessarily mean tastier.
Fry the garlic until slightly golden brown and add the chicken into the pan. Fry until the chicken is almost done, stirring occasionally.
While we wait for the chicken to cook, you can prepare the sauce (if you haven't already).
When ready, add the sauce and the shredded basil leaves into the pan and simmer for 5 -10 minutes.
While waiting for the chicken to be done, do some washing (chopping board, bowls, etc...). If you want, you can clean up the prep area as well. Don't worry about over cooking the chicken. But remember to add some water if your pan looks like it is drying up!
I decided last minute to add in some french beans and olives to the chicken so I wouldn't need to prepare a vegetable dish tonight. Quickly, I chopped the beans and sliced the olives and throw them into the pan, simmering another 1-2 minutes (until beans are cooked).
Once the beans are cooked, off the gas and pour out the contents of the pan into your serving bowl.
By now, your rice should be done too. But don't open the pot yet, as the rice is still wet.
If you are using frozen rice (like I did), this is when you put the frozen rice into the microwave. 3 - 4 minutes should be enough.
We buy the rice some time by cooking some fried eggs.
Serve the eggs with the rice. And Tada! Dinner is served!
Start Time: 8.19pm. |
| The raw materials |
I always chop the garlic first when preparing my ingredients to reduce the effects of garlic odour on my hands.
Wash the basil leaves and shred them. Mince the chicken. For tastier meat, marinate your minced chicken with some salt, soy sauce and mixed herbs (if using). Remember, how much to put, is up to you - more does not necessarily mean tastier.
 |
| Preparing the sauce |
Prepare the sauce
Mix some salt, soy sauce, ground black pepper, chili flakes, oyster sauce and corn starch in some water.
Time to start cooking
Once everything is ready, heat the frying pan and pour some cooking oil into the pan.  |
| Stir fry the minced chicken |
While we wait for the chicken to cook, you can prepare the sauce (if you haven't already).
 |
| Simmering the chicken |
When ready, add the sauce and the shredded basil leaves into the pan and simmer for 5 -10 minutes.
While waiting for the chicken to be done, do some washing (chopping board, bowls, etc...). If you want, you can clean up the prep area as well. Don't worry about over cooking the chicken. But remember to add some water if your pan looks like it is drying up!
 | |
| Last minute addition of olives and french beans |
Once the beans are cooked, off the gas and pour out the contents of the pan into your serving bowl.
By now, your rice should be done too. But don't open the pot yet, as the rice is still wet.
If you are using frozen rice (like I did), this is when you put the frozen rice into the microwave. 3 - 4 minutes should be enough.
We buy the rice some time by cooking some fried eggs.
 |
| Frying the egg |
|
| Dinner is served! |
If you can see the time on the watch, it reads, 9.00pm. Wow! dinner is ready in just 40 minutes!
But let's not forget that the pan and rice container needs washing, the stove has to be cleaned and the table has to be set. So let's add another 10 minutes to the clock.
End Time: 9.07pmTotal Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Total Cleaning Time: 12 minutes
Mission accomplished! The Basil Chicken and Rice dish is definitely a Meal in 60 minutes!
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