Ninja Speedi Crispy Spanish Chicken with Saffron Rice

Servings: 4 Total Time: 35 mins Difficulty: Beginner

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Crispy Spanish-Style Chicken with Saffron Rice
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You’ll discover how this modern take on Spanish chicken transforms traditional paella elements into a weeknight-friendly feast. As saffron’s golden threads dissolve into the rice, they carry forward centuries of Moorish culinary influence while your Ninja Speedi tackles the contemporary challenge of achieving perfectly crispy chicken skin. The combination of smoked paprika, garlic, and that signature saffron aroma creates a dish that’s both authentic and accessible. Whether you’re a seasoned home chef or just starting to explore Spanish cuisine, there’s an intriguing story behind every element of this vibrant meal.

Spanish Cooking’s Saffron Traditions

When you explore Spanish cuisine’s connection to saffron, you’ll find its roots in the ancient Moorish influence that brought these precious crimson threads to the Iberian Peninsula over a thousand years ago.

Today, you can watch Spanish farmers carefully harvesting saffron by hand in places like La Mancha, where they gather the delicate stigmas of autumn-blooming crocus flowers in the early morning hours.

You’ll notice this cherished spice starring in signature Spanish rice dishes across different regions, from Valencia’s iconic paella to Murcia’s caldero, where it adds both its distinctive golden colour and subtle flavour.

Ancient Moorish Saffron Legacy

During Spain’s centuries of Moorish rulesaffron emerged as a precious spice that would forever transform Spanish cuisine. The Moors brought this golden treasure from the Middle East in the 8th century, and you can still see their influence in Spain’s signature dishes today.

You’ll find that the Moors weren’t just expert traders – they revolutionised Spanish farming by introducing advanced irrigation systems that made saffron cultivation possible. They taught locals how to grow and harvest the delicate crocus flowers, whose crimson stigmas yield the precious spice.

The Moors also shared their knowledge of saffron’s many uses, from adding colour and flavour to rice dishes to serving as a natural dye for textiles. This ancient legacy lives on in modern Spanish cooking, where you’ll spot saffron’s distinctive golden hue in countless traditional recipes.

Harvesting Spain’s Golden Threads

Throughout Spain’s countryside, the delicate art of saffron harvesting remains a cherished autumn tradition.

You’ll find families gathering in the early morning hours to pluck the precious purple crocus flowers before the sun rises too high. It’s a race against time, as these delicate blooms must be harvested the same day they open.

Once you’ve collected the flowers, you’ll need steady hands to carefully remove the three crimson stigmas from each bloom.

These valuable threads are then dried to create the saffron spice that’s so essential to Spanish cuisine. While you might be tempted to rush this process, experienced harvesters will tell you it takes about 150 flowers to produce just one gram of saffron – which explains why it’s often called “red gold.”

Regional Rice Dish Traditions

Spain’s prized saffron transforms humble rice dishes into legendary regional specialities across the country.

You’ll find paella Valenciana in the east, where locals combine saffron-infused rice with rabbit, chicken, and seasonal vegetables. In Murcia, they’ve perfected caldero, a fisherman’s one-pot wonder where the rice soaks up rich seafood broth tinted golden by saffron threads.

Head north to Catalonia, and you’ll discover arròs a banda, where the rice is cooked separately in saffron-flavoured fish stock.

In Andalusia, you can’t miss arroz marinero, where saffron rice mingles with fresh catches from the Mediterranean.

Each region’s unique take on saffron rice dishes reflects its local ingredients and cooking traditions, but they all share that distinctive golden hue and aromatic complexity that only true Spanish saffron can deliver.

Ninja Speedi Crispy Spanish Chicken with Saffron Rice - Ingredients laid out ready for cooking

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Ninja Speedi Crispy Spanish Chicken with Saffron Rice

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 20 mins Total Time 35 mins
Cooking Temp: 180  C Servings: 4
Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Description

This vibrant one-pot meal combines the classic flavours of Spanish cuisine with perfectly cooked chicken and aromatic rice. The Ninja Speedi's dual-cooking technology guarantees the rice absorbs all the delicious seasonings while the chicken develops a beautifully crispy skin.

The dish features tender chicken pieces seasoned with smoked paprika and garlic, served over saffron-infused rice studded with sweet peppers and peas. The simultaneous cooking method delivers restaurant-quality results in a fraction of the time.

Ingredients

Cooking Mode Disabled

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken thighs dry and season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.

For bottom pot:

  1. Add rice, stock, saffron, diced onion, peppers, and garlic to the bottom pot. Stir to combine all ingredients.

For crisping tray:

  1. Place seasoned chicken thighs skin-side up on the crisping tray. Drizzle with olive oil.
  2. Select Speedi Meals function and set temperature to 180°C. Cook for 20 minutes. Add frozen peas to the rice mixture in the last 5 minutes of cooking. Let rest for 5 minutes after cooking.
  3. Serve chicken pieces over the saffron rice with lemon wedges.

Equipment

Affiliate Disclosure: easyrecipes.pro is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. i.e., when you buy any product using the links below, we get commissions. but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. If you do purchase any product using the given links, we thank you in advance!

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4


Amount Per Serving
Calories 766.62kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 41.09g64%
Saturated Fat 10.24g52%
Trans Fat 0.16g
Cholesterol 192.94mg65%
Sodium 953.41mg40%
Potassium 798.95mg23%
Total Carbohydrate 56.44g19%
Dietary Fiber 4.04g17%
Sugars 6.54g
Protein 41.08g83%

Vitamin A 146.74 IU
Vitamin C 56.83 mg
Calcium 59.03 mg
Iron 3.03 mg
Vitamin D 0.19 IU
Vitamin E 2.32 IU
Vitamin K 18.52 mcg
Thiamin 0.33 mg
Riboflavin 0.49 mg
Niacin 12.63 mg
Vitamin B6 1.03 mg
Folate 52.07 mcg
Vitamin B12 1.19 mcg
Phosphorus 442.13 mg
Magnesium 70.5 mg
Zinc 3.63 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

For extra flavour, marinate the chicken in the spices for up to 4 hours before cooking. Confirm rice is well spread in the bottom pot for even cooking. If the chicken skin isn't crispy enough after the cooking time, use the Air Crisp function for an additional 2-3 minutes. For best results, avoid opening the lid during cooking to maintain temperature and steam.

Vibrant Golden Rice Impresses

The centrepiece of this Spanish-inspired dish is the stunning saffron rice that transforms into a beautiful golden canvas beneath the crispy chicken.

You'll notice how the precious saffron threads work their magic, infusing the rice with an unmistakable sunny hue and delicate floral aroma that'll transport you straight to Valencia.

When you're cooking the rice, you'll find it absorbs all those amazing Spanish flavours - from the fragrant garlic and onions to the rich chicken broth.

The rice won't just be a side dish; it's going to steal the show with its vibrant colour and perfect texture.

You can expect each grain to be tender yet separate, creating that ideal bed for soaking up all the delicious juices from your crispy chicken above.

Conclusion

You've now mastered a dish that brings Spain's treasured saffron legacy right to your kitchen. Whether you're serving it for a casual weeknight dinner or hosting friends, this Ninja Speedi creation delivers authentic flavours without hours of traditional cooking. The crispy chicken and golden rice aren't just a meal - they're your gateway to centuries of Spanish culinary tradition, made simple for today's busy home cook.

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Nick-Jolliffe

Nick Jolliffe

Home Cook, Foodie, and Recipe Tinkerer

Nick Jolliffe is a self-proclaimed food enthusiast who loves nothing more than experimenting with new flavours and ingredients at home. With a passion for cooking that borders on obsession, Nick is always on the lookout for inspiration to create delicious, mouth-watering dishes to share with friends and family. When he's not busy scouring cookbooks or browsing food blogs, you can find him whipping up a storm in his kitchen, always eager to try out new recipes and techniques.

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