Chicken And Apricot Saute Food

STICKY APRICOT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat a large, deep frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Add a splash of oil and brown the chicken pieces all over until the skin is crisp and golden, approximately 10-15 minutes.
• In the meantime, mix together all the glaze ingredients. Add 2 tablespoons water to thin the glaze out a little but not enough to make it overly watery.
• When the chicken is golden brown and almost cooked through, pour off the excess fat.
• Return the pot to the heat and add the glaze.
• Allow the glaze to simmer gently, basting the chicken regularly until the glaze has reduced and the chicken is cooked through.
• Serve the chicken on rice with a generous amount of glaze spooned over.

CHICKEN WITH APRICOTS, LEMON AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Season chicken generously on both sides with salt and pepper. (If time permits, do this an hour before cooking or up to 24 hours in advance. Keep refrigerated, but remove from refrigerator 1 hour before cooking.)
• In a large skillet over medium heat, place chicken pieces skin-side down in one layer. Let chicken cook slowly to brown well on one side, about 15 to 20 minutes. When skin is crisp and lifts easily from the pan, it is ready. Flip and cook 2 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, make saffron water: In a small cup, combine saffron with lemon juice and 1/4 cup water. Set aside to steep.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Transfer chicken, skin-side up, to a baking dish. Pour off some fat from the skillet, reserving about 2 tablespoons. Add onions, salt lightly and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add saffron water and threads, tomato purée, cayenne, coriander, fennel, cardamom and wine to onions and bring to a simmer.
• Pour onion mixture over chicken. Tuck apricots and lemon slices among the chicken pieces. Cover tightly and bake for 1 hour. Remove cover and bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. (Recipe can be prepared to this point up to 2 days ahead. When ready to serve, reheat in a 350-degree oven, in a covered pot, 30 to 45 minutes.)
• To serve, garnish with cilantro and mint leaves. Sprinkle with pine nuts and serve hot.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH APRICOT COUSCOUS AND GREEN OLIVE SAUCE IN FLAT BREAD

Steps:

• To prepare the Moroccan Spice Mix for the Chicken: Combine the cinnamon stick, cloves, cayenne, cumin, fennel, coriander, and paprika in a dry skillet over low heat and toast for just a minute to release the fragrant oils; shake the pan so they don't scorch. In a spice mill or clean coffee grinder, grind the toasted spices together, with 1 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt and the brown sugar. (A word of advice: make sure you thoroughly wipe out your coffee grinder before you make coffee again - Moroccan spices taste great on chicken but horrible with coffee.)
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rinse the chicken with cool water, inside and out, then pat it dry with paper towels. Massage the chicken skin with the spice rub; make sure you don't miss a spot. Season the inside of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Stuff the lemons halves, cilantro, and garlic in the cavity and place the chicken in a roasting pan fitted with a rack. Fold the wing tips under the bird and tie the legs together with kitchen string. Drizzle the oil all over the chicken. If you have time, let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes to really get the flavors down deep into the meat. Roast the chicken for 1 hour; pop an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh; if it reads 160 degrees F, it's done. Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes so the juices can settle back into the meat. Remove and discard the skin from the chicken. Pull the chicken from the bone and shred the meat, with your fingers or 2 forks. Put the shredded chicken in a large bowl and squeeze the lemon halves that have cooked inside the bird over the meat to moisten.
• To prepare the Apricot Couscous: Put the couscous in a medium bowl; pour the water over it, stir with a fork to combine. Cover and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then uncover and fluff with a fork. Put the apricots, almonds, green onions, mint, and cilantro on a cutting board and coarsely chop everything up; add this to the couscous. Add lemon juice, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss gently to combine.
• To prepare the Green Olive Sauce: In a small skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Saute the shallots and chile over low heat for 8 minutes until caramelized, then scrape into a food processor. Add the olives, parsley, vinegar, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup of oil; puree a good 3 minutes until totally smooth.
• To put the whole thing together: put the shredded chicken and couscous on the lavosh bread, add a few spoonfuls of the olive sauce, and roll the sandwich up. Wrap in foil and take the sandwich to a picnic, if desired.

CHICKEN, DRIED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Rub the chicken with cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. Place the garlic in the cavity. Set aside at room temperature for one hour.
• Simmer the apricots in water to cover for 30 minutes, or until plump.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large fireproof casserole, fry the onion in the butter and oil until soft. Add the chicken and apricots. Cover and bake in the oven for 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked, basting frequently. Remove lid for final 15 minutes of cooking so that the chicken breast browns. Correct seasoning and serve.

APRICOT CHICKEN II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place the chicken breasts in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with salt. Combine the apricot preserves, vinegar and brown sugar. Pour the preserve mixture over the chicken, cover, and bake for 50 minutes.
• Remove cover and bake for 10 more minutes.