Yakhni – La Boîte

Ingredients

• 90 ml (3 fl oz/⅓ cup) olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, cut into 1 cm (½ in) cubes
• 2 roma or plum tomatoes, cut into 1 cm (½ in) cubes
• 1.9 liters (64 fl oz/8 cups) water or chicken stock
• 150 g (5½ oz/1 cup) yellow or red lentils or 200 g (7 oz/1 cup) basmati rice
• 900 g (2 lb) skinless chicken breast, bone-in
• 2 large carrots, cut into 5 cm (2 in) pieces
• 2 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 4 cm (1½ in) half-moons
• 80 g (2¾ oz) cilantro (coriander), leaves and stems roughly chopped, plus sprigs to garnish
• 1 tablespoon ground turmeric
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon ground cardamom
• 55 g (2 oz) fresh spinach
• 1 lemon, to serve