Cochiti Arroz con Pollo

Ingredients

• 6  chicken thighs skinless dry with or ( 2 lb. total), rinsed and patted (see notes)
• 2 tablespoons chili powder 
• 7 cups fat-skimmed chicken broth 
• 5 tablespoons mint leaves fresh chopped
• 14 oz chilies whole green canned (see notes)
• 8 oz onion peeled chopped
• 0.3 cup pinenuts 
• 2 tablespoons salad oil (if using skinned chicken; otherwise omit)
• 6 servings salt and pepper 
• 8 oz lightly spinach leaves packed rinsed
• 1.3 cups rice long-grain white

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• ladle

Directions

1. In a 6- to 8-quart pan over medium heat, stir pine nuts until lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes; pour from pan.
2. If using skinned chicken, pour oil into pan and turn heat to medium-high. When pan is hot, add thighs, skin side down, in a single layer (brown in batches if they don't all fit); turn occasionally until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Transfer to a plate.
4. Add onion to pan and stir often until limp, about 5 minutes; add chili powder and stir for about 10 seconds.
5. Add broth to pan and increase heat to high.
6. Cut green chilies in half lengthwise. When broth is boiling, return chicken and any drippings to pan; add green chilies. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
7. Stir rice into pan, making sure all grains are submerged. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender to bite, 20 to 25 minutes.
8. Uncover pan and turn heat to high; add spinach and 1/4 cup mint, pushing down into liquid, and stir gently until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle mixture into wide bowls, then sprinkle with remaining tablespoon mint and the toasted pine nuts.