Apricot Chicken and Rice

I first tasted apricot chicken in Australia when I was on a youth exchange--my host mother was such a good cook! She told me that she only made a few dishes, seven or eight things sticking with what she did well.  It was a good strategy and her apricot chicken was wonderful. Traditionally this dish is a sauce poured over chicken pieces and baked, but here we have a yummy skillet version, served over rice.  My kids loved this.

Apricot Chicken and Rice
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. sesame oil
3 c. chopped, cooked chicken
1 1/2 c. apricot preserves
2 c. chicken broth
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. seasoning salt
pepper to taste
tiny pinch of chipotle flakes (optional)

In a large skillet, heat olive oil.  Cook onion and garlic in oil until onion is tender.  Add remaining ingredients, stir to combine and simmer for 10 min.  (If sauce is thin, you can thicken it with about 2 tsp. cornstarch in 2 Tbsp. water to a gravy consistency.)  Serve over rice.

Notes:  I served this at a meal when we weren't all home.  I will need to make a bigger batch next time.  I used homemade apricot jam. You could also add peppers to this...

Jenny