Bring a dish to the party

MELISSA THOMPSON’S

One-pot chicken, pumpkin & pepper rice

Ideal for bring-a-dish parties, you can time this one-pot so it’s ready for when it’s time to leave, then transport it in the pot it’s cooked in, so it won’t take up already limited fridge space and there will be no scrabbling around, looking for containers. This is an easy, tasty and comforting dish with warming spices that give it a Christmassy feel. I make it with chicken, but you can use leftover turkey, too – ideally leg meat.

SERVES 4-6 PREP 15 mins plus resting COOK 45 mins EASY

1.8-2kg whole chicken, jointed and the breasts divided in two, or use four legs, jointed into drumsticks and thighs
5 garlic cloves
5cm piece of ginger, peeled
5 spring onions, 2 roughly chopped,
3 finely chopped
2 tsp ground pimento
1/tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp thyme leaves
3 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 red pepper, finely chopped
600g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into small cubes
5 cloves
350g long-grain white rice
700ml chicken stock

Slash all the chicken pieces