Once chicken is cooked, let it rest for 4-5 minutes then chop into cubes, using all the flavorful juices left in the pan.
When cooking the rice, cook garlic and onion on medium-low heat for 5-6 minutes until softened and fragrant, then add spices and uncooked rice. Toast for 2-3 minutes before adding water.
For the rice, bring to a light bubble then cover with a lid, simmer for 10-12 minutes or until fully cooked. Check halfway to mix, which prevents sticking.