Italian Microwave Chicken

When we moved out to a friend’s farm the house we were renting didn’t have an oven or stovetop (bar the wood burning one that filled the kitchen with smoke). So all my cooking was restricted to an electric frying pan and a microwave oven. After experimenting for a few weeks I came up with this little number which is super easy and full of flavour

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 2  chicken thighs, with bones (you could use another part of the chicken if you wanted)
• 1⁄2 cup long grain rice
• 400  g diced tomatoes
• 1⁄2 large zucchini (diced)
• 1⁄2 large carrot (diced)
• 4  mushrooms (diced)
• 1⁄2  diced onion (white, red or spring)
• 8  olives (with pips)
• 1  cup water
• 1  teaspoon instant chicken bouillon granules
• 1⁄2 cup basil leaves
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. Put rice, water & tomatoes in a 2 or 3L microwave safe dish and mix.
2. On top of that add the zucchini, carrot, mushrooms, onion, olives and basil leaves.
3. Sit the chicken on top and sprinkle the stock powder on the vegetables and the chicken and season with salt and pepper.
4. Cover the dish with a lid (microwave safe) or cling wrap and cook for 40 minutes on 90% power. I use an 1100watt oven but I wouldn’t worry about altering the time if yours is less powerful.