Madras Chicken and Rice Pilau
Chicken, basmati and peas cooked together in one pan with madras paste. A whole meal in a single pot.
Made with Madras paste and Homemade chicken stock. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 mins
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.49 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Rinse the rice in cold water until it runs clear, then drain.
- 2
Heat the oil in a wide pan with a tight lid over a medium heat. Cook the onion for 8 minutes until golden.
8 min - 3
Add your ready made madras paste (see the base recipe) and fry for 2 minutes. Add the chicken and brown for 5 minutes.
7 min - 4
Stir in the rice for 1 minute, then pour in your ready made chicken stock (see the base recipe). Bring to the boil, stir once, cover and turn to the lowest heat.
- 5
Cook for 12 minutes without lifting the lid. Scatter the peas on top, replace the lid and cook for 5 minutes more.
17 min - 6
Take off the heat and leave covered for 5 minutes. Check the chicken is cooked through, fluff with a fork and scatter with coriander.
Tips
- Rinsing the rice stops it going gluey.
- Do not lift the lid while the rice cooks, as the steam does the work.
- Cool leftovers within 1 hour and eat within 24 hours, because rice kept warm can grow harmful bacteria.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 hour, chill and eat within 24 hours. Reheat only once until steaming hot all the way through. Freeze in portions for up to 1 month.
Questions
Can I use brown rice?
Yes. Use 650 ml stock and cook covered for 30 minutes, then add the peas.
Why is my rice mushy?
There was too much liquid or the heat was too high. Measure stock carefully and keep the heat very low.
Is it safe to reheat rice?
Yes if cooled within an hour, kept in the fridge and reheated once until steaming hot all the way through.
More made with madras paste
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.