Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 18 Chicken DrumsticksYou can use thighs, legs or even a whole chicken in this recipe
- 1 Tbsp Paprika
- 1 Tbsp Parsley
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
- 1/4 Tsp Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
For the Rice
- 1 Diced Onions
- 25g Butter
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 200g Rice
- 2 Pints Vegetable Stock
Directions
This Albanian Chicken Pilaf is know as Pule me Oriz, the rice is baked with seasoning and in the juices of the chicken which gives the rice a brown colouring. The chicken is moist and falls away from the bones while the rice is light and soft.
In Albania you will find a lot of rice dishes and in almost every case served as a meal rather then a side. Albanian Baked Lamb and Rice with Yogurt (Tavë Kosi) is one of the most traditional and popular dishes or, fruits and spices are added to make the rice into a pudding know as Kabuni.
I find that when using rice in Albanian dishes, Basmati rice is the closest – it can be fried, boiled and baked without becoming soggy and starchy. Rice is normally fried for a few minutes in a combination of butter and oil first before seasoning being added and then cooked in meat juices mixed with boiling water.
Steps
1 Done | Pre cook the ChickenYou will need a large deep sided baking tray (I use a traditional Albanian circle tray but you can use anything that is big enough to fit all the chicken). Sprinkle the remaining oil over the base of the tray. |
2 Done | In a small bowl mix well the paprika, parsley, salt, pepper and half the oil. |
3 Done | Rub the mix over all the chicken, placing each onto baking tray. |
4 Done | Place in the oven on the middle shelf, 180 degrees for 30 minutes. |
5 Done | After 30 minutes remove the chicken from the oven and remove all the chicken out of the tray and keep to one side. These will not be fully cooked yet. |
6 Done | Preparing the RiceIn a saucepan add the butter, olive oil and onion. Fry for 2-3 minutes until the butter is fully melted and the onion is just starting to brown. |
7 Done | Add the rice and stir continuously for a minute ensuring the rice is mixed with the onion then add the vegetable stock - be careful as this will spit as you add it to the pan. Bring to the boil. |
8 Done | Once the rice has come to the boil empty the saucepan into the baking try and stir into the oil and juices left by the chicken, |
9 Done | Re add all the chicken ensuring there is a bit of space between each one. |
10 Done | CookingCover the baking tray with foil and place back in the oven for 40 minutes. |
11 Done | Once removed from the oven, remove the foil and leave to cool slightly before serving. I serve the tray directly to the table. |
8 Comments Hide Comments
This recipe was great and delicious, much easier than making separately. I added spices to the rice! I will definately make again! Thank you!
Hi Lily, thank you for trying this recipe, it’s one of our favorites! Glad you found it delicious too 🙂
Hi
I have Albanian guests coming for lunch tomorrow.. (husband side of the family) and I’ve never cooked Albanian food before:)
want to make the rice without the chicken as i want to mske your chicken and salami on skewers…and a few other things i saw on here!!
my mother in law made me delicious rice when I visited Albania so wanted to try making it myself
Hi Salma,
There are a few ways to make the rice, baking rice is very common and the tip is to fry the onion in some butter and oil first. Add some stock – I use vegetable stock when cooking it alone and then bake it. If you are not adding chicken I recommend a couple of handfuls of peas and sweetcorn added to it before you bake it.
Cooking this for my lovely Albanian husband tonight, I hope it lives up to his mum’s version!
Will let u know how it goes…..
can you use ground beef with this instead of chicken? if so, how would you cook it and incorporate it?
You can, that would make it more of a leek bake but without the leeks. Try this recipe but leave out the leeks – https://www.myalbanianfood.com/recipe/albanian-leek-and-rice-bake/ – You can always use chicken / vegetable stock instead of any lamb / beef stock.
The would be the best way to bake ground beef with rice – keeping to the way we cook it.
Really hope this helps!
I used to live in Kosovo and they cook many traditional Albanian foods. So happy to have found this website. Shume e mire!!