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Scarlett's Chicken and Rice

Source of Recipe


From "Deep Run Roots" by Vivian Howard



List of Ingredients



• 1 large chicken and its neck left whole, gizzards remoed
  
• 3 quarts cool water, or just enough to cover the bird
  
• 1½ to 2 Tbsp salt
  
• 40 to 60 grinds of the pepper mill, or 2 to 3 teaspoons black pepper
  
• 2 cups white rice
  
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
  






Instructions



1. Put your bird, breast-side up, in a 6- to 8-quart heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. Cover the bird, just barely, with cool water. Add the salt and 2 teaspoons pepper. Cover and bring it all up to a simmer. Cook for about an hour or until the bird is, in my mom's words, "falling to pieces." If you're working with a typical young chicken this should not take any longer than an hour and a half. If it is a laying hen, it could take up to 5 hours. I know that sounds crazy, but a hen will provide a much better broth.
   
   
2. Once the bird is falling to pieces turn off the heat and let it rest in the broth for 30 minutes. Take the chicken out of the broth and tear the meat into medium pieces. Discard the skin and bones. Put the meat back into the pot. Bring the broth and chicken up to a simmer.
   
   
3. Add the rice. If you are a rice rinser, resist the urge here, as the starch helps make the broth homey and thick. Cook the rice for about 12 minutes; depending on the variety or brand, the time may vary. The rice should be just cooked through and should absolutely hold its shape. Turn off the heat. Add the lemon juice and the remaining teaspoon black pepper if you wish.
   
   Makes 4 quarts
   
   






Final Comments


"Today most people make this with a young chicken from the store. If you were to run across a laying hen past her egg-dropping prime, beg for her and make a pot of chicken and rice. That hen will take up to 4 hours to 'cook to pieces' but the broth she'll offer up will be well worth the time."