TWICE-AS-NICE CHICKEN AND RICE SALAD (NIGEL)

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. 2. Roast the chicken breasts on a baking tray for 25-30 minutes with the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic cloves and a little salt and pepper. Set aside to cool. 3. Wash the rice thoroughly - I do this three times, but that is probably more than is truly necessary. Put it into a heavy-based saucepan, tuck in the cinnamon stick, the lightly crushed cardamom pods and the garlic clove. Cover the rice with water to come a couple of centimetres above the rice. Salt lightly, then place over a high heat and bring to the boil. 4. As soon as the water starts to boil, turn the heat down to a simmer and cover with a tightly fitting lid. Cook until the rice is tender but still toothsome - about 10-15 minutes. It is cooked when the water has disappeared and there are several small holes in the surface of the rice. Remove and set aside. 5. Cut the cooked chicken breasts into thick pieces and tip into a bowl. Chop the pistachios. Scatter the pistachios and sultanas over the chicken. Slice the dried apricots and stir them through the chicken. Stone the cherries and add them to the dish with some roughly chopped dill and parsley. Remove the cinnamon stick and gently fold the rice into the chicken. Take care not to over-mix. 6. To make the yoghurt sauce, chop the mint and stir it into the yoghurt with the ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Spoon the sauce over the rice as you serve.