Creamy Chicken with Mustard & Watercress Sauce
Clock Image
Total: 20 mins
A lovely, creamy chicken and rice dish, drenched in a sauce made with crème fraîche, brightened with chervil, stirred with a dash of wholegrain mustard and bubbled with a peppery lift from fresh watercress.
This recipe is a:
See this week's box.
Recipe Box Recipe Main Image
631 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 150g white basmati rice
  • 250g diced chicken leg
  • 200g white mushrooms
  • A handful of chervil
  • 50g watercress
  • ½-1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
  • 200ml half fat crème fraîche
From your kitchen
  • 300ml boiling water
  • Sea salt
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • Freshly ground pepper
You'll need
  • Small pan with a lid
  • Measuring jug
  • Deep frying pan or wok
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Fill your kettle and boil it. Rinse the rice under cold water, then tip it into a small pan and pour in 300ml hot water from the kettle. Add a pinch of salt, pop on a lid and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down very low and gently simmer for 8 mins till the rice has absorbed all the water. Take the pan off the heat and let the rice steam in the pan, lid on, for 5 mins. This will finish cooking the rice.

  • 2.

    Place a deep frying pan or wok on a medium heat and add 2 tsp olive oil and the chicken. Fry for 4-5 mins, turning once or twice, till the chicken is browned all over.

  • 3.

    While the chicken fries, rinse the mushrooms then tear them into small pieces. Finely chop the chervil, discarding any really thick stalks.

  • 4.

    Add the mushrooms to the chicken. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Fry, stirring often, for 3-4 mins till the mushrooms are juicy looking. Meanwhile, roughly chop three quarters of the watercress. Set the rest to one side.

  • 5.

    Add the chopped watercress and three quarters of the chopped chervil to the chicken and mushrooms. Add ½-1 tbsp of the mustard (use as much or as little as you prefer – you can add more later). Stir for 2 mins to just wilt the watercress.

  • 6.

    Turn the heat down to low. Dollop in the crème fraîche and gently warm for 2-3 mins, stirring. Taste the sauce and add more mustard or a pinch of salt or pepper if you think it needs it.

  • 7.

    Divide the rice between 2 warm plates or bowls. Top with the remaining watercress and spoon over the chicken and chervil sauce. Garnish with the last of the chopped chervil and serve.

This recipe is from