Chicken With Figs Daisy Food

FRESH FIGS AND CHICKEN THIGHS IN SHALLOT-BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Steps:

• Pat chicken thighs dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken thighs and cook, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Add figs, chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, and shallot. Bring contents to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and let simmer until chicken thighs are no longer pink in the centers and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the centers reads at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 8 minutes. Transfer thighs to a serving plate and keep warm.
• Remove figs from the skillet using a slotted spoon and place them around the chicken on the plate.
• Add minced rosemary to the skillet contents, increase heat to medium-high, and allow contents to come to a full boil to create a the reduction. Continue to boil, stirring often, until liquid reduces to approximately 1 cup, 8 to 10 minutes. Drizzle balsamic reduction over chicken and figs and garnish with rosemary sprigs. Serve warm.

CHICKEN WITH FIGS (POLLO CON HIGOS)

Steps:

• Pour enough boiling water over the figs in a heatproof bowl to cover them completely.
• Add 1 tbs. sugar to figs.
• Let stand until the figs are softened, about 20 minutes, depending on your figs. (You don't need to do this if you are using fresh figs.).
• Cut off the skin from the slab bacon, then cut the bacon into ½ inch slices. (To remove the skin from the bacon, start by using a paring knife to separate the skin from the fat at one corner, then lift the skin up as you continue cutting, making it easier to see what you're doing.).
• Cut the slices crosswise into ½ inch strips.
• Toss the bacon pieces into a large cold skillet and put the pan over medium heat.
• Cook the bacon, stirring it once or twice, until it starts to give up its fat.
• Cook, stirring often, until it is well browned, about 10 minutes.
• Scoop the bacon onto paper towels with a slotted spoon and set aside, then pour off almost all the fat from the pan reserving about 1 tbs. of fat.
• Add the celery, onion, carrot, and thyme to reserved fat and cook, still over medium heat, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir everything together until the flour coats the vegetables and picks up all the fat.
• Adjust the heat to low and keep stirring until there are no traces of raw white flour sticking to the vegetables, which would give an unpleasant taste to the finished sauce.
• Stir in the tomato paste and cook for a minute or two.
• Take the pan off the heat and pour in the cognac. Return the pan to the heat and boil until the cognac is almost evaporated.
• Stand back from the pan once you add the cognac; there is a chance it could burst into flames.
• Pour the broth into the pan, stirring to dissolve the flour.
• Toss in the bay leaves and cloves and bring to a boil.
• Adjust the heat so the sauce is at a gentle boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is lightly thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper.
• Pour enough vegetable oil into a large deep skillet to lightly coat the bottom.
• Heat over medium-high heat until the oil is rippling.
• Add as many pieces of chicken skin side down to the pan as will fit without crowding.
• Cook, turning once, until dark golden brown on both sides, about 10 minutes. The chicken doesn't have to be cooked through; it will finish cooking in the sauce.
• Transfer the browned pieces to a large paellera or Dutch oven and brown the rest of the chicken, in batches if necessary.
• Skim off any foam or fat that rises to the surface of the sauce as it cooks.
• Strain the sauce, discard the vegetables and add sauce to the browned chicken.
• Drain the figs and discard the liquid.
• Scatter the bacon and figs over the chicken, breaking up some of the figs as you go to help the sauce thicken.
• Bring the sauce to a boil, cover the paellera and cook until the chicken is tender and the figs are very soft and have started to dissolve into the sauce, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Serve with yellow rice.
• * If your stovetop is occupied, you can finish cooking this dish in an oven preheated to 350°F It will take about the same amount of time as the stovetop version. Handle the wide, heavy pan carefully when moving it into and out of the oven.
• * If using fresh figs, wash them gently and cut them into quarters before adding. Otherwise, proceed as above.

BALSAMIC CHICKEN WITH FIGS AND RED ONION

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit)
• In a large cast iron skillet (or oven proof pan) heat the olive oil. Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper and then cook for 4 minutes per side in the oil until golden in colour. Once cooked, transfer to a plate
• In a bowl whisk together the mustard, honey and balsamic vinegar.
• Add the diced shallots and garlic to the pan and cook for 4 minutes until the shallots begin to soften. Add in the sliced red onions and thyme and let cook for 3 minutes before pouring in the balsamic/mustard mixture and chicken stock.
• Let everything simmer for 4 minutes before adding in the chopped kale. Return the chicken thighs to the skillet and arrange the fig pieces around the pan. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken and then bake in the oven for 35 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Sprinkle with more thyme before serving.

SPICED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH DRIED FIGS

Steps:

• Combine the rice, cinnamon stick, 1 bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 1/2 cups water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and stir. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 17 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside, covered.
• Meanwhile, season the chicken with salt and the paprika. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and heat until shimmering. Add the chicken and cook, undisturbed, until well browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the other side, 3 to 5 more minutes. Remove to a plate.
• Add the shallot to the skillet; cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Stir in the figs, then add the vinegar and remaining 2 bay leaves. Cook, scraping up any browned bits, until the liquid is mostly reduced, 1 minute. Return the chicken to the skillet along with any juices from the plate; add the broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the liquid is reduced but still saucy, 10 to 12 minutes; season with salt.
• Fluff the rice, discarding the cinnamon stick and bay leaf, and divide among plates. Top with the chicken, figs and sauce and sprinkle with the parsley.

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH FIGS AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss chicken with salt, rosemary, garlic, citrus zest and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight (the longer the better).
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Spread chicken pieces out on two rimmed baking sheets, making sure there is plenty of room between the pieces. Arrange figs among the chicken pieces, then scatter jalapeño slices on top. Drizzle everything generously with olive oil.
• Roast, switching the position of the baking pans after 15 minutes so everything browns evenly, until the chicken is golden and cooked through. This should take about 25 to 30 minutes for the breast meat, and 30 to 40 for the dark meat. Serve chicken with the orange or lemon wedges for squeezing, if you like.

CHICKEN WITH ONIONS AND FIGS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onions in butter until tender. Add the figs, honey, lemon juice, garlic and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until mixture is thick, stirring occasionally., Place chicken in two greased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Spoon onion mixture over chicken. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a thermometer reads 180°. Serve with pan juices.

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH FETA AND FIGS

Steps:

• One at a time, place each chicken breast between pieces of plastic wrap or parchment and lightly pound with a mallet until it is 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Chicken breasts should be of uniform thickness.
• Place chicken breasts in a bowl, season with salt and pepper and toss with rosemary, garlic and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cover bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.
• Place oven on lowest setting, around 200 degrees. Cook the chicken: Heat a large cast-iron skillet or grill pan over high heat for 5 minutes. Add remaining olive oil to pan and reduce heat to medium-high. Turn over chicken breasts in marinade to coat them, then add them to the pan, rounded side down. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes on one side, until cooked halfway through.
• Turn chicken breasts over and carefully arrange feta on top, dividing it equally among the 4 breasts. Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon thyme leaves over feta on each breast. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, until breasts are cooked through. Feta will warm but will not melt. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep in warm oven while you cook the figs.
• Add wine to pan and scrape with a wooden spoon to deglaze the bottom. Boil wine until it has reduced by half, then add figs, honey and remaining thyme. Cook, stirring, until figs break down and begin to look jammy, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Serve chicken breasts with fig compote on side and garnish with rosemary sprigs.