Herbed Basmati Rice with Baked Chicken and Garlic-Infused Oil

Garlic gives so much Middle Eastern cooking its backbone, but for a sensitive gut it's often one of the first things to go. Garlic-infused olive oil solves that: the oil picks up the aroma while the fructans that cause trouble stay behind in the solids, so this dish keeps that familiar savory note without the discomfort.

The chicken thighs bake simply with cumin, and the basmati rice cooks in the same infused oil with a little dried parsley stirred through, so every part of the plate carries a little of that garlic flavor. Fresh parsley on top adds brightness without any citrus needed.

It's a satisfying, protein-forward dinner that proves gentle cooking doesn't have to mean bland — just a slightly different toolkit. Leftover rice keeps well and reheats nicely with a splash of water.