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Joshua McFadden's Spiced Brown Rice with Chickpeas

Flavorful Spiced Brown Rice with Chickpeas made and served in the microwave-safe glass Anyday dish, featuring a hearty combination of aromatic spices, tender rice, and protein-packed chickpeas. This dish is effortlessly prepared in the microwave, offering a nutritious and satisfying meal that's ideal for quick lunches or dinners. Its vibrant flavors and convenient preparation make it a go-to choice for busy schedules.
Joshua McFadden's Spiced Brown Rice with Chickpeas
PT8M PT34M

Prep Time

8 mins

Cook Time

34 mins

Free Time

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According to Joshua McFadden, “this quick-to-prep dish is simple, comforting, and nutritious enough to be a main dish, though it’s lovely as a side partner to a pork chop or chicken breast, or as a filling for stuffed peppers.” While you wait for this one-dish recipe to cook, your house will fill up with the delicious aromas of turmeric, cardamom, coriander, cumin, mustard seeds, and more.

This recipe was adapted with permission from Grains for Every Season: Rethinking Our Way with Grains by Joshua McFadden.

All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwave and home kitchens to make sure they work—, and work well. Unless specified otherwise, all recipes should be cooked at full power.

brown rice, One Dish Meals, Rice & Grains, Chickpeas, cumin, Joshua McFadden, People Making Waves, Deep Dish, spices, tumeric, turmeric, whole One Dish Meals, Rice & Grains

What You’ll Need

What You’ll Need

The Medium Deep Dish

The best dish for 1-2 portions of grains, veggies, mac and cheese, ramen, and more.

The Anyhand Mitts

Handle hot Anyday dishes with care with these microwave mitts that double as trivets!
Try Anyday

Select your serving size and microwave wattage in the dropdown. The recipe will change accordingly.

1-2
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Select your microwave wattage in the dropdown. The cook times in this recipe will automatically change accordingly.

[[video-wattage]]

To find your microwave’s wattage, look at the front panel, the side of the door, in the back, in the user manual, or Google the model number. If both an input and output wattage are listed, use the output.

Wattage translates to how powerful the microwave is. The higher the wattage, the faster your food will cook. The lower the wattage, the longer the cook time.

When in doubt, start with less time — you can always add more.

700w

Recommended 

Dish

The Medium Deep Dish

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1½ " (7.5cm) chunk of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ½ cup (100g) brown basmati or other long-grain rice
  • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • Pinch of dried chile flakes
  • ¾ cup (180ml) chicken broth or water
  • ½ 15.5oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained well
  • Plain yogurt, for serving
  • Lime wedges, for squeezing
  • Small handful fresh mint, parsley, and/or cilantro leaves, for garnish

Preparation

  1. Add the coconut or olive oil, onion, ginger, garlic, turmeric, cardamom, coriander, cumin, and mustard seeds to the Anyday Deep Dish. Cover with the lid (knob lifted) and cook in the microwave for minutes, until onions are translucent and spices are very fragrant but not burned.
  2. Add the brown rice, salt, chile flakes, and chicken broth or water to the dish. Cover and cook at Power Level 4tooltip for 30 minutes, or until rice is tender and has fully absorbed the liquid. Let rest covered for 5 minutes to gently finish steaming.
  3. Stir in the chickpeas. Cover and cook at full power for another minutes until warmed through. Taste and adjust with more salt or chili flakes.
  4. Serve with a dollop of yogurt, a squeeze of lime, and a handful of fresh herbs.

Serving suggestions & tips

  • If rice is still too hard after the cook time, add a few tablespoons of water and continue cooking at the recommended power level in 2-minute increments.
  • If it’s taking longer than expected, increase the power level by 1. If it’s bubbling over or the lid is lifting, decrease the power level by 1.

Recipe notes

  • Learn more about Joshua at JoshuaMcFadden.com
  • Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.