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Banza chicken bowl with rice, chicken, cucumber tomato salad, and Calabrian chili sauce

Banza Chicken Bowls with Calabrian Chili Sauce and Rice

Banza chicken bowls combine a hearty rice base with tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and a creamy Calabrian chili sauce for a flavorful bowl with crisp textures and a spicy finish. They are an easy, satisfying meal when you want a balanced dish with bold flavor.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 471
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Tomato Cucumber Salad
  • 1 English cucumber, cut into chunks (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut into halves (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • a small chunk of red onion, thinly sliced on a mandoline
  • a small bundle of parsley, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Calabrian Chili Sauce
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
  • 2-3 individual Calabrian chiles, stems discarded and smashed/minced
  • 1 clove garlic, grated
  • a splash of Castelvetrano olive brine (optional, see notes)
  • salt, to taste
Assembly
  • a batch of prepared chicken
  • a prepared rice mix or preferred carb base

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Combine the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix well and adjust the seasoning to taste.
  2. If preparing the salad ahead, store the chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion separately in the refrigerator without adding liquids until just before serving.
  3. Mix the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Calabrian chiles, garlic, olive brine if using, and salt together to make the sauce. Adjust the seasoning to taste. The sauce can be kept refrigerated for several days.
  4. Prepare the chicken and rice base according to their respective preparations.
Assembly
  1. Arrange the rice base, chicken, cucumber tomato salad, and Calabrian chili sauce together in serving bowls and serve.

Notes

Olive brine adds a salty, buttery quality to the sauce. If it is not available, it can be skipped without needing a special purchase. Pickle brine can also be used instead, creating a brighter flavor because it is more tangy than olive brine.