Quick Dinner: Tomato Chicken Rice Bowl

As the the rainy season starts, I will eventually want a nice bowl of soup and toasty garlic bread. And naturally any form of bread using wheat flour is not allowed in a gluten-free diet, so is a nice hot cheesy pizza. Craving for something in between tomato soup & grilled cheese, and a pizza. I scoured by pantry and fridge for what I can whip up to satisfy my craving.

Here's what I found.

Tomatoes - I always have a can or two of Italian tomatoes on hand with me. Tomato sauce or Marinara is so versatile in coming up with quick meals I can cook after a long day at the office. 

Chicken breast - another staple of mine. Yes, it sounds boring, but think of the possibilities.. you can pound it thin, cut it to cubes, sautee it, bake it, and throw it in soup or a stew. And since it is somewhat bland, it is a perfect base as it can take almost every flavor you sprinkle on top of it.

Rice - as a Filipino, it is hard to not have a supply of rice. We eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even for snacks and dessert. I am grateful that rice is gluten-free which makes this journey of mine easier.

With these three basic ingredients, I came up with this fast under 15 minute meal.

Tomato Chicken Rice Bowl

serves 1

1 pc boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes

1/3 to 1/2 cup canned tomatoes (crushed or cubed are fine)

1 garlic clove, finely diced or you may use a garlic press

1/2 small white onion,chopped

a splash olive oil or a pat butter

oregano and thyme

chili flakes

2 tablespoons your cheese of choice, grated

1 cup rice, cooked

salt and pepper

Melt the butter in a skillet or heat up your olive oil over medium heat.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Saute the chicken til it brown turns, add the garlic and onions and cook til garlic is fragrant and onions are translucent.

Add the canned tomatoes and a sprinkling of oregano and thyme.

Reduce heat to low and simmer for 3-5mins.

While the chicken and tomatoes are marrying flavors, you can heat up your cooked rice in the microwave.

Place rice in a bottom of your bowl.

Taste your tomato sauce, add salt and pepper to taste. 

Pour over the rice and top with your grated cheese.

If you want the cheese melted, you may throw the bowl back into the microwave for 15 seconds.

Let it cool a bit before digging in.. the cheese is hot!

The result? Yummy goodness with the taste of pizza sauce and cheese with the homey feeling of a nice chunky tomato soup. The rice absorbs the tomato-ey goodness and chicken provides you with a lean protein. My personal score: 10/10!

Notes:

You may add veggies as the chicken sautes for the extra nutrition. Broccolli, carrots, bell peppers and chickpeas would be my choice. I didn't have any on-hand with me so I kept it plain.