Sautéed Chicken With Green Olives and Cilantro |
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Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 40 Minutes |
Ready In: 55 Minutes Servings: 4 |
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North African in spirit, this dish is easy enough for weeknight cooking but impressive enough to serve to guests. Note the sauté-and-roast technique used to prepare the chicken, which results in crisp skin and juicy meat. Contrast the strong, sweet, spicy and salty notes in the relish with a fruity, medium-weight Zinfandel. Look for the 1997 Eberle Paso Robles Sauret Vineyard or the 1998 Ridge Sonoma Station. Ingredients:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil |
1/4 cup onion, minced |
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced |
2 teaspoons garlic, minced |
1 cinnamon stick |
3 saffron threads |
2 cups chicken stock or 2 cups low sodium chicken broth |
salt |
fresh ground pepper |
3 1/2 lbs chicken, cut into 8 pieces |
2 tablespoons green olives, minced |
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice |
1 tablespoon cilantro, coarsely chopped (plus more for garnish) |
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 500°. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a small saucepan. Add the onion, ginger, garlic, cinnamon and saffron and cook over moderate heat until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and season with salt and pepper. Increase the heat to high and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces by three-quarters and becomes syrupy, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat.
2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet. Add the chicken, skin side down, and cook over moderately high heat until lightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook for 2 minutes. Turn the pieces skin side down and roast in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until the juices run clear when a thigh is pierced.
3. Remove the cinnamon stick from the sauce. Add the olives and the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with pepper. Rewarm the sauce over low heat for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and the 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro. Arrange the chicken on plates and spoon the sauce around it. Garnish with cilantro and serve.
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