Creamy chicken and rice
Soft cooked rice with finely shredded poached chicken and tender vegetables in a smooth, moist sauce. Everything is cooked until very soft and folded through a little milk and cream, so the dish is gentle on chewing.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts (approximately 150g each)
- 150 g white rice (such as basmati)
- 1 carrot (peeled and finely diced)
- handful frozen peas (small)
- 100 ml milk (full-fat or semi-skimmed)
- 2 tbsp single cream
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt (to taste)
Method
- 1Place the chicken breasts in a saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to a gentle simmer. Poach for 15 - 18 minutes until fully cooked through and no pink remains. Remove and set aside to cool a little.
- 2Meanwhile, cook the rice in plenty of boiling water for 12 - 15 minutes until very soft, adding the diced carrot and peas for the final 6 minutes so they cook until tender. Drain.
- 3Shred the poached chicken finely with two forks, or chop it very small so it needs little chewing.
- 4In a clean pan, warm the oil over a low heat, stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk and cream to make a smooth sauce, stirring until it thickens.
- 5Fold the rice, vegetables and shredded chicken through the sauce until everything is coated and moist. Season lightly to taste and serve warm.
Soft texture: Cook the rice and vegetables until very soft and keep the sauce loose and moist. This meal may be easier to eat in the first few days after thyroid surgery, but everyone recovers differently - follow the eating and swallowing advice from your surgical team.
Loosening the sauce: If the dish feels too thick or dry, stir through a little extra warm milk until it reaches a texture you can manage comfortably.
Temperature: A warm, not scalding, serving temperature tends to be more comfortable after neck surgery.
Nutrition: Chicken and milk provide protein. These are food ideas only - speak to your clinical team if you have specific nutritional concerns after surgery.
Thyroid-aware, not thyroid-curing. These recipes are general ideas, not a treatment or a diet plan, and nothing here constitutes medical or dietary advice. If you have specific dietary needs, speak to your clinician or a registered dietitian.