Balsamic Fig Glazed Chicken Food

BALSAMIC FIG GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray an 8x8'' baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
• Prepare Glaze: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sauté until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add in garlic and sauté until fragrant, 30 seconds- 1 minute. Add in fig preserves, honey, balsamic vinegar and sprig of thyme. Increase heat to bring mixture to a boil and immediately reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced by half, about 10-12 minutes. Use tongs to remove thyme sprig and discard.Optional for smoother glaze: Use an immersion blender (or transfer glaze to a stand blender) and puree until smooth.
• Meanwhile, season chicken: Place chicken on a clean work surface and pat the chicken dry. Season both sides of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Transfer chicken to the prepared baking dish (they should fit snugly). Spoon the reduced glaze over the chicken, using the back of a spoon to evenly coat and distribute the glaze. Add 4 remaining sprigs of thyme to the pan.
• Roast: Transfer the baking dish to the oven. Bake (basting the chicken with the glaze once during cooking), for 35-40 minutes or until the juices run clear and chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Remove from oven and let chicken rest 5 minutes. Optional: Switch oven to broil during last 3-4 minutes of baking for a more golden brown chicken. Watch the chicken carefully as it can burn easily!!
• Serve: Garnish chicken with fresh thyme, walnuts and cheese if using. Enjoy!

ROASTED BALSAMIC-GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, herbes de Provence, and lemon juice in a bowl, whisking until emulsified.
• Pour over the chicken, taking care to completely coat it. Insert the reserved squeezed lemons, plus the rosemary and garlic into the cavity. Layer the onions in a roasting pan and place the chicken on top. Slice the fennel in half lengthwise and surround the chicken with it, cut side down.
• Put the chicken in the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 250 degrees F and roast for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, basting occasionally.

BALSAMIC CHICKEN AND FIG BROCHETTES

Steps:

• Cut the chicken into 1-inch/2.5 cm cubes and put them into a glass bowl. Combine the garlic, vinegar, and oil and pour it over the chicken. Cover and let marinate for a few hours, turning now and again. Meanwhile, soak wooden skewers in water. Preheat a grill. Before grilling, skewer the chicken cubes and fig halves alternately on skewers, without shoving them right up against each other.
• Grill on both sides until the chicken in fully cooked, about 10 minutes.

BALSAMIC-GLAZED CHICKEN SANDWICHES WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, red wine and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar disolves. Cook until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 12 minutes). Remove from heat and cool slightly.
• While the vinegar cooks, spray a large non-stick skillet with non-stick cooking spray and heat on med-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken with the salt and pepper and brown to desired doneness, at least 4 minutes per side. Remove form the skillet and cover, keeping it warm. Add the olive oil to the skillet and spread around to coat the bottom well, add the onion and cook, stirring often to prevent burning, till brown or carmelized. Remove from heat.
• Thinly slice the chicken. Spread a thin layer of cheese over the bottom of each roll, divide the chicken between each roll and top with the onion. Drizzle each with a small amount of the vinegar mixture(about 1 Tbsp.) and top with the arugula, if desired.

CHICKEN TENDERS WITH BALSAMIC-FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides and lightly coat with flour, shaking off excess.
• Heat olive oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chicken to the skillet and cook until tenders are golden brown, no longer pink in the centers, and juices run clear, 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway through. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• Add shallot and garlic to the same skillet and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add red wine and balsamic and let simmer until reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in figs, thyme, Dijon mustard, honey, and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low or medium-low and let simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter.
• Spoon sauce over warm chicken tenders, or add chicken back into the skillet to briefly reheat, and serve immediately.

CHICKEN WITH BALSAMIC FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle both sides of chicken evenly with 1 1/2 tsps thyme, 1/4 tsp salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add chicken and cook for 6 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Remove from pan and keep warm by covering plate with towel or placing in warm oven.
• Reduce heat to medium and add butter to skillet.
• Add onions and saute for 3 minutes.
• Add broth, vinegar, soy sauce and figs.
• Simmer until sauce is reduced to 1 cup (about 3 minutes).
• Add 1 tablespoon thyme and 1/4 tsp salt.
• Cut chicken breasts on the diagonal into slices. Serve sauce over chicken.

BALSAMIC-GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Mix balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, water, and brown sugar together in a small bowl until sugar is dissolved.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown chicken in the hot oil until no longer pink in the center, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• Add mushrooms and onion to the skillet, adding more oil as needed. Cook over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Return chicken to the skillet and pour balsamic glaze on top. Reduce heat to low and let simmer gently until sauce thickens slightly and chicken is warmed through, 3 to 4 minutes.