Chicken-And-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 (6 ounce) container uncooked wild rice
3 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
3/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, divided
1/2 cup finely chopped country ham or 1/2 cup bacon
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1 large carrot, finely chopped
8 ounces assorted fresh mushrooms, chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons dry sherry or 2 tablespoons white wine
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 pounds)
Garnishes
fresh flat-leaf parsley, sliced almonds

Preparation

Bring 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 quart water to a boil in a 3-qt. saucepan over high heat. Stir in rice, and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk and next 2 ingredients. Increase heat to medium, and cook, whisking constantly, 3 to 4 minutes or until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Stir in 1/4 teaspoons each kosher salt and black pepper.
Cook ham in 1 tablespoons hot oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, 6 minutes or until beginning to brown. Stir in onion and next 2 ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes or until onions are tender. Stir in garlic, and cook 1 minute. Add sherry, and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute or until sherry is evaporated. Remove mixture from skillet.
Preheat oven to 375\u00b0. Sprinkle chicken with remaining 1/2 teaspoons each salt and pepper. Add remaining 1 tablespoons oil to skillet. Cook chicken in hot oil over medium-high heat 4 minutes on each side or until brown. Remove skillet from heat; transfer chicken to a plate.
Drain rice. Stir together rice, ham mixture, and sauce in skillet. Place chicken on top of rice mixture.
Bake at 375\u00b0 for 30 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and chicken is done. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.