Egyptian Lemon Chicken With Figs Food

EGYPTIAN LEMON CHICKEN WITH FIGS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°.
• Squeeze the juice from one of the lemons into a small bowl, add the brown sugar, vinegar and water. Mix well and set aside.
• Slice the remaining lemon and arrange evenly, along with the figs in a 13x9 baking dish.
• Place the chicken thighs on top in a single layer, then drizzle the vinegar mixture over the chicken.
• Sprinkle with the thyme and salt.
• Bake at 400° for about 40 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in the middle and juices run clear, basting half-way through cook time.
• Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH CILANTRO, LEMON AND DRIED FIGS

Steps:

• Place flour in large resealable plastic bag. Season flour with salt and pepper. Add chicken to bag; seal bag. Shake bag to coat chicken lightly with flour.
• Heat 2 teaspoons oil in large nonstick pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add chicken and sauté until brown on all sides, about 7 minutes per batch. Transfer chicken to plate. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil to pot and reduce heat to medium. Add onions and garlic and sauté until golden and tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in broth, 1/2 cup cilantro and lemon juice and bring to boil. Add figs and chicken with any accumulated juices to pot. Cover and simmer until chicken is tender, about 35 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, transfer chicken to bowl and cover with foil to keep warm. Boil juices in pot until thickened to sauce consistency, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro over and serve with lemon wedges.

EGYPTIAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut chicken into small pieces.
• Put olive oil, into large heavy pot over low heat.
• Add chicken, chopped onion and the allspice, paprika, coriander, cumin and pepper.
• Stir, cover and cook until the chicken and onion has softened.
• Add rice, stock cubes, 41/2 cups of hot water and salt to taste.
• Cover and simmer until the rice is almost cooked.
• Saute vermicelli in the 2 tbs of butter until it separates and is golden brown.
• Tip vermicelli into rice and add currants and chopped almonds.
• Turn off hotplate, put a teatowel over the pot, cover with lid and allow to steam for 10 minutes.
• Fluff rice with fork and serve.
• NOTE: This recipe can be easily made vegetarian if you substitute vegetable stock cubes instead of chicken and omit the chicken breast entirely.

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.