Chimichurri Chicken Food

CHIMICHURRI CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make the sauce: On a cutting board, smash and coarsely chop the garlic with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mash the mixture using the side of your knife until a coarse paste forms. Move the paste to the side of the cutting board, then chop the parsley and oregano together with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Combine the garlic paste and the chopped herbs and chop and mash until the herbs are bruised and fragrant.
• Transfer to a medium bowl. Add the red-pepper flakes, black pepper, vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil; stir to combine. (You should have about 3/4 cup chimichurri. It can be prepared in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 days.)
• Make the chicken: Pat the chicken dry. If thickness varies greatly, pound to an even thickness, about 1/2-inch. Rub half the chimichurri all over the chicken and let sit for at least 10 minutes. (You could also refrigerate overnight; just let it come to room temperature before cooking.)
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Wipe off excess marinade from the chicken and cook until juices run clear, about 5 minutes per side for thighs and 4 minutes per side for breasts. (For grilling and oven instructions, see Tips below.)
• Serve with remaining chimichurri spooned over top.

CHIMICHURRI CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the chicken: Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the grapeseed oil and allow it to heat up. Place the chicken breasts in the pan skin-side down, making sure not to overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if needed. Sear one side of the chicken until nicely browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the chicken over and finish cooking until cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F., 3 to 4 minutes.
• For the chimichurri: Combine the grapeseed oil, parsley, vinegar, cilantro, honey, oregano, garlic, shallot, red pepper flakes and salt in a food processor and process slowly. Add the extra-virgin olive oil and mix to combine. The final product should be smooth but have a bit of texture to it.
• For the sweet potatoes: Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the grapeseed oil and allow it to heat up. Add the sweet potatoes and cook on high to sear, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook the the potatoes, stirring regularly, until tender, about 20 minutes.
• Add the chili powder and cayenne and saute for 1 to 2 minutes to toast the spices. Add the molasses and cook, stirring, until glazed, 3 to 4 minutes. The potatoes should be tender but not falling apart.
• Just before serving, heat the sweet potatoes over high heat and add the kale. Cook until the kale is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• To plate: Divide the sweet potatoes and kale among 6 plates, placing the vegetables in the center of the plates. Lay the chicken breast over the sweet potatoes. Spoon about 2 ounces of the chimichurri over each of the chicken breast. Garnish with the chopped parsley.

CHIMICHURRI CHICKEN MARINADE

Steps:

• For the marinade: Add the parsley, vinegar, oregano, red pepper flakes, scallions and garlic to a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. With the food processor running, stream in the oil until uniform in a consistency. Add the lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper. Pulse just to combine. Add 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 8 boneless skinless thighs (about 1 1/2 pounds) to a large resealable plastic bag. Pour in the marinade, squeeze out the air, seal tightly and massage gently to coat the chicken. Refrigerate for 2 hours or freeze up to 1 month; defrost in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.
• To cook: Transfer the chicken to a foil-lined baking sheet and roast in a 425-degree F oven until cooked through and an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F, 20 to 25 minutes.

CHICKEN WITH CITRUS CHIMICHURRI SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk water, salt, honey and zests until salt is dissolved. Add chicken, making sure it's submerged. Refrigerate up to 2 hours., Pulse sauce ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup sauce for serving., Remove chicken; rinse and pat dry. Brush chicken with remaining sauce. Grill, covered, over medium-high heat or broil 4 in. from heat until a thermometer reads 165°, 4-6 minutes on each side. Serve with reserved sauce.

CHIMICHURRI BAKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine parsley, 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, oregano, vinegar, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper in a bowl; mix the chimichurri thoroughly.
• Place chicken on a cutting board and remove the backbone using kitchen shears. Press down on the breast with the heel of your hand to flatten. Loosen the skin of the chicken carefully and rub the chimichurri underneath, distributing it evenly. Wrap the chicken in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Allow chicken to come to room temperature for no more than 1 hour before baking.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Rub 1 teaspoon olive oil over the chicken; season with salt and pepper. Place onion in a cast-iron skillet. Pour chicken broth over onion. Place seasoned chicken on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Allow chicken to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

CHICKEN CHIMICHURRI SANDWICHES

Steps:

• To Make Chimichurri Sauce: Combine parsley, cilantro, chile, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper in food processor. Cover and pulse until chopped.
• Add olive oil gradually, with food processor running. Continue to process until smooth. Makes 1 1/3 cup.
• To Make Chimichurri Sandwiches: Combine chicken and 3/4 cup chimichurri sauce in large resealable plastic bag. Seal bag and turn to coat. Chill several hours or overnight.
• Heat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from plastic bag, discarding any sauce remaining in bag. Grill chicken 2 to 4 minutes on each side, turning only once, until browned and no longer pink in center. Stack cooked chicken into 4 equal portions. Top each with 1 slice cheese. Remove from grill and let rest 5 minutes.
• Heat canola oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; saute 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown and tender. Stir in salt and pepper.
• Toast sandwich buns, if desired. Spread cut sides of buns with remaining Chimichurri Sauce. Serve chicken on buns topped with onions, avocado and lettuce. Serve immediately.

GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH CHIMICHURRI SAUCE

Steps:

• To make chimichurri sauce: In food processor fitted with metal blade, puree garlic.
• Add parsley and process until finely chopped.
• Add 3/4 cup oil, vinegar, water or chicken broth, and seasonings, and process.
• Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. It should be very flavorful and spicy.
• For marinade: In small mixing bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of the chimichurri sauce, with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and mix until smooth; taste for seasoning.
• Place chicken breasts in a sealable bag and pour in marinade, making sure marinade is evenly distributed.
• Zip bag and refrigerate 1/2 hour to 4 hours.
• Prepare barbecue for medium-heat grilling.
• Remove chicken from marinade and grill about 3 inches from flame, 7 to 10 minutes on each side or until no pink color is showing.
• Place on platter and serve with sauce on the side.
• Advance prep. tip: The sauce can be made up to 6 days ahead, covered and refrigerated. Remove from fridge half an hour before serving.

CHIMICHURRI CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Cook chicken and onions in Dutch oven or large deep skillet on medium heat 6 min. or until chicken is lightly browned, turning chicken after 3 min. and stirring onions occasionally. Remove from pan; cover to keep warm. Add rice to pan; cook and stir 30 sec. Add broth and half of Our Favorite Chimichurri; bring to boil. Add chicken and onions. (Do not stir.) Cover tightly.
• Bake 30 min. Top with remaining Our Favorite Chimichurri. Bake, covered, 5 min. Top with cheese.