Chicken With Orzo Fennel Leeks Food

CHICKEN WITH ORZO, FENNEL & LEEKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Sprinkle salt and then some pepper all over chicken. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Nestle chicken, skin side down, in skillet in a single layer with no gaps (if you can't quite fit them all, wait until chicken shrinks slightly, then puzzle in the remaining pieces).
• Cook until meat is opaque around the edges and skin is deep golden brown, 6-8 minutes. Turn chicken skin side up and transfer skillet to oven; bake, uncovered, until chicken is cooked through, 10-15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate; cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
• Set same skillet (with juices) over medium heat; combine chopped fennel bulb and leek in the skillet and sprinkle in some salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until leek is looking golden around the edges, about 5 minutes. Add orzo and cook until pasta is darkened (it will take on a brown hue) to a nice nutty brown in spots and toasty smelling, about 3 minutes.
• Pour in the wine and cook, stirring, until liquid is evaporated, about 1 minute. Add broth ½ cup at a time, stirring constantly and letting broth absorb before adding more, until orzo is tender and broth is mostly absorbed but pan is not dry, 10-15 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from the heat, Taste and add more salt and pepper to your liking; mix in lemon juice and the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter; then add the chopped fennel fronds reserving a few to use as a garnish. Pile chicken on top and finish with the lemon zest and reserved fronds. Serve immediately.

ONE-SKILLET CHICKEN WITH BUTTERY ORZO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Rain salt and then some pepper all over chicken. Heat 2 Tbsp. butter in a medium cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Nestle chicken, skin side down, in skillet in a single layer with no gaps (if you can't quite fit them all, wait until chicken shrinks slightly, then puzzle in the remaining pieces). Cook until meat is opaque around the edges and skin is deep golden brown, 6-8 minutes. Turn chicken skin side up and transfer skillet to oven; bake, uncovered, until chicken is cooked through, 10-15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.
• Set same skillet over medium; combine fennel bulb and leek in skillet and sprinkle in some salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until leek is looking golden around the edges, about 5 minutes. Add orzo and cook until pasta is darkened (it will take on a brown hue) to a nice nutty brown in spots and toasty smelling, about 3 minutes. Pour in wine and cook, stirring, until liquid is evaporated, about 1 minute. Add broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and letting broth absorb before adding more, until orzo is tender and broth is mostly absorbed but pan is not dry, 10-15 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat, Taste and add more salt and pepper to your liking; mix in lemon juice and remaining 1 Tbsp. butter, then chopped fennel fronds. Pile chicken on top and finish with lemon zest.

CHICKEN AND ORZO SOUP WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Combine chicken broth, salt, and pepper in a large soup pot; bring to a boil over high heat. Add carrots, fennel, and orzo; return to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, until orzo and vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in chicken; cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat; stir in lemon juice and dill.

CREAMY ORZO WITH LEEKS AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Cook orzo in boiling salted water and drain.
• While orzo is cooking, melt butter in large sauté pan.
• Add leeks and cook over medium heat until they are softened.
• Add chicken stock and simmer until the stock almost disappears.
• Add cream to the sauté pan with the leek mixture.
• Add cooked orzo and heat thoroughly.
• Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg to your taste.
• If it looks a little dry, add a little extra cream.
• Just before serving, add the Parmesan and stir until it melts.

CHICKEN WITH CHORIZO & LEEKS

Steps:

• On the hob, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Season the chicken pieces, then fry, in batches, until golden brown on both sides. Lift out and set aside.
• Pour all but 3 tbsp fat from the pan, add fennel and chorizo, then cook, stirring, until the fennel is soft and lightly coloured. Add leeks, cook until soft. Add garlic and paprika, cook for 1 min more, then pour in the sherry. Let it bubble for 1 min, stirring well, taste, then season.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Pour the mix into 2 ovenproof dishes. Scatter tomatoes over, then arrange the chicken on top. Cover with foil, then cook for 20 mins, until the chicken is cooked through. During cooking, check and add a little water if it seems to be getting dry.
• Turn the oven up to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Uncover the chicken and season the skin with salt and pepper. Bake for 20-30 mins until the chicken is heated through and the skin is crisp. Rip the coriander leaves over the top and serve straight away.

BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CARAMELIZED FENNEL & LEEKS

Steps:

• Trim fennel bulbs, and set aside fronds. In a blender or food processor, pulse about 1/2 cup fronds, garlic, lemon zest and 1/4 teaspoon salt until finely chopped. Add 1/3 cup oil and purée.
• Halve fennel bulbs lengthwise. Slice thinly with a mandoline or very sharp knife.
• clean and thinly slice leaks.
• Season chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat. Brown chicken until skin is crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate, leaving drippings in pan.
• Stir fennel seeds into skillet and cook for 30 seconds. Add the sliced fennel, leeks and onion, seasoning with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Reduce heat to medium and cook, tossing occasionally, until vegetables are caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes. Add Pernod and scrape up any browned bits in the bottom of the skillet; cook until liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute.
• Lay chicken on top of the fennel-onion mixture. Pour 3 tablespoons water into the pan. Cover skillet and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until chicken is just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Uncover and cook off any excess liquid if necessary. Stir in lemon juice.
• Serve chicken and vegetables topped with generous dollops of the fennel frond purée.

CHICKEN WITH CREAMY MUSHROOMS, FENNEL AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Slice the leeks in half, then thinly slice them into 1/4-inch-thick half-moons. Place the leeks in a colander set over a bowl and fill the bowl with enough water to cover the leeks. Gently stir them around to help remove any excess dirt and sand. Remove the colander with the leeks from the bowl, leaving behind any dirt. Let leeks drain completely.
• Place the chicken breasts on a sheet of parchment paper. Season the chicken breasts with salt, a pinch red pepper flakes, and half the thyme leaves. Place another piece of parchment on top of the chicken. Use a meat mallet or a rolling pin to pound the chicken breasts slightly until they are an even thickness, about 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Hold both pieces of parchment paper and flip the chicken over; now the parchment that was originally on the bottom should be on top. Remove the parchment, exposing the unseasoned side of chicken. Season with salt, another pinch red pepper flakes, and the remaining thyme leaves. Place the parchment back on top and pound slightly to adhere the seasoning.
• Heat a large straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add in 2 tablespoons olive oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add in the chicken breasts and cook, undisturbed, about 4 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook until the chicken is cooked through and golden brown and reaches 165 degrees F, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.
• Turn the heat down to medium and add in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the fennel, mushrooms, and leeks to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Season the vegetables with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Deglaze with the white wine and cook until the wine is mostly evaporated, about 1 minute. Turn the heat down to low and add in the cream. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cream has thickened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Season the sauce to taste.
• To serve, spoon the creamy vegetables over the chicken. Garnish with thyme leaves.