Curried Chicken, Poblano & Figs

10 oz chopped chicken breast (roughly bite size)

½ cup Jasmine rice (I use basmati)

1 poblano pepper (I use more, as we often cook more than 10 oz of chicken and omit red pepper flakes)

2 cloves garlic

2 dried Turkish figs (More is better)

½ cup Tzatziki (cucumber-yogurt sauce)

2 Tbsps mascarpone cheese * (The container they sent had much more than this in it. More like a ½ cup)

1 1-inch piece ginger

1½ tsps brown & yellow mustard seeds

¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes *(omitted in favor of the poblanos)

2 tsps Vadouvan curry powder

In a small pot, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the mustard seeds and rice. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly toasted (be careful, as the mustard seeds may pop as they toast). Add a big pinch of salt and 1 cup of water (carefully, as the liquid may splatter). Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 12 to 14 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork. Cover to keep warm. 

Meanwhile, roughly chop the figs. Place in a medium bowl; cover with 1/2 cup of hot water. Set aside to rehydrate at least 10 minutes. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Peel and finely chop the ginger. Wash and dry the pepper; cut off and discard the stem. Halve lengthwise; remove the ribs and seeds, then thinly slice crosswise. Thoroughly wash your hands immediately after handling. 

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place in a medium bowl; add the sliced pepper and curry powder. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken and pepper in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. *(Flip and cook another 2 minutes or so.)

Add the chopped garlic and chopped ginger to the pan. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until slightly softened. Including the liquid, add the rehydrated figs (carefully, as the liquid may splatter) and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 3 to 4 minutes, or until the liquid is slightly reduced in volume and the chicken is cooked through. Turn off the heat. Stir in the mascarpone until combined. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the mustard seed rice topped with the finished chicken and pepper and tzatziki. Enjoy!

-Blue Apron