Herb & ricotta chicken with mushroom rice

A perfect dish for the weekend, this tastes special and is good for you, too. It’s a good source of protein and carbs to aid muscle recovery post exercise.

SERVES 2 PREP 10 mins COOK 35 mins EASY

2½ tsp rapeseed oil

2 leeks, washed and sliced 180g closed cup mushrooms, roughly sliced

125g brown basmati rice

3 thyme sprigs

2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder

60g ricotta good handful basil, chopped, plus a few small leaves, to serve

1 garlic clove, finely grated 10g parmesan, finely grated

2 skinless chicken breast fillets handful chopped parsley, plus extra to serve

1 Heat 1 tsp oil in a large pan, then add the leeks and stir-fry until softened and charred around the edges. Tip in the mushrooms and cook until softened.

2 Stir in the rice and thyme sprigs with the bouillon powder, then pour in 700ml boiling water. Cover and leave to simmer for 30 mins.

3 While the rice is cooking, mix the ricotta with the basil, garlic, and parmesan. Cut a slash in the top of each chicken breast, then slightly open out and spoon on the ricotta mix. Heat the remaining 11/2 tsp oil in a small frying pan, then add the chicken, ricotta-side up. Cover with a lid and cook over a low heat for 10 mins. Once cooked, turn off the heat and leave while you wait for the rice to finish cooking.

4 Pour any juices from the chicken into the rice, then cook for 5 mins more to get rid of any excess moisture. Stir the parsley through the rice, remove the thyme sprigs and spoon onto two plates, top with the chicken, and scatter over the basil and more parsley leaves.

GOOD TO KNOW healthy • low fat • folate • iron •

2 of 5-a-day • gluten free

PER SERVING 514 kcals • fat 12g • saturates 4g • carbs 52g • sugars 4g • fibre 7g • protein 47g • salt 0.5g