Fierro Chicken Food

SMOKED CHICKEN CANNELLONI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the chicken: Using kitchen shears, remove the backbone of the chicken and set aside in the refrigerator for another use (such as Smoked Chicken Minestrone). Cut the chicken in half, straight through the breastbone. By separating the chicken into two pieces it will ensure that the chicken gets smoked more thoroughly. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, the granulated garlic and smoked paprika.
• Place 1 deep aluminum roasting pan over the stove top. Line with aluminum foil. Add the soaked wood chips to a large piece of foil, and then fold in the sides to make a pouch. Punch holes in the top of the pouch, set it directly over a gas burner and turn on high. Leave for 2 to 3 minutes, watching carefully. Once it begins to smoke, using tongs, transfer the pouch to the bottom of the lined roasting pan. Set a wire rack over the chips in the lined roasting pan and position it so the wood chips are directly over the burner and continue to smoke. Place the chicken pieces bone-side down on the rack. Cover tightly with aluminum foil to seal in the smoke. Put the roasting pan into the oven and smoke until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove and cool. Shred the smoked chicken breast and set aside 1 1/2 cups for the cannelloni (reserve the rest for another use). Increase the oven to 375 degrees F.
• While the chicken is smoking, make the creamy roasted red pepper sauce: Bring the oil to medium heat in a large saucepot. Sweat the onions until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and sweat until fragrant, about a minute. Stir in the peppers and tomatoes. Simmer for 5 minutes. Working in 2 cup batches, process the sauce on high in a blender until smooth. Return the sauce to the pot, reduce the heat to low and whisk in the cream. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. If making ahead, cool before refrigerating for up to a week.
• For the cannelloni: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, cream cheese, 1 cup of the Parmesan, the egg and nutmeg with a wooden spoon. Fold in the reserved shredded chicken, spinach, tomatoes and some salt and pepper. Spoon the filling into a medium pastry bag fitted with a large open tip. Spread 1/2 cup of the creamy roasted red pepper sauce evenly on the bottom of a 9- by 13-inch gratin dish. Pipe about 2 1/2 tablespoons of the filling into the cannelloni shells and place them into the gratin dish. Spoon the remaining sauce over the cannelloni. Sprinkle with the panko and remaining Parmesan. Cover and bake until the filling is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Bake uncovered until the top is golden and bubbling, an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and cool on a resting rack. Garnish with Parmesan and serve.

SKILLET CHICKEN AND FARRO WITH CARAMELIZED LEEKS

Steps:

• Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season all over with salt and pepper, and set aside while preparing the leeks.
• Trim roots from leeks, then cut away any wilted, yellowing or browned parts from the greens. Slice leeks in half lengthwise. Wash well under cold running water to remove any soil, then shake dry. Thinly slice the leeks (including the greens) into half-moons. You should have about 6 cups. Measure out about 2 tablespoons of sliced leek whites and set them aside for garnish.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. When the oil thins and coats the bottom of the pan, add half the chicken and cook until browned on both sides, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate and repeat with remaining chicken.
• Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet and stir in the leeks and a pinch of salt. Sauté until tender and golden brown, 10 to 13 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in spices, thyme and tomato paste, and cook until tomato paste darkens and caramelizes, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour in chicken stock and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Stir in farro and 1 teaspoon salt. When the liquid comes to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low and nestle in the browned chicken, skin-side up; pour in any juices from the plate. Cover pan and let cook until the farro is tender and the chicken is cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, toss together the reserved leek whites, chopped tomatoes and parsley. Season to taste with salt, pepper and an acid like lemon or lime juice or vinegar. The mixture should taste tangy and bright.
• Discard the thyme sprigs, and serve chicken and farro topped with some of the tomato mixture.

ONE-SKILLET ITALIAN CHICKEN, SPINACH, AND FARRO

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over medium heat and grease with cooking spray. Cook chicken and onion until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the center, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove chicken.
• Pour chicken broth into skillet and bring to a boil. Stir in farro. Cover, reduce heat, and cook until most of the liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Return chicken to skillet. Stir in diced tomatoes with liquid, spinach, basil, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes, covered.
• Serve topped with Parmesan cheese.

PESTO FARRO WITH CHICKEN, SMOKED MOZZARELLA AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook the farro according to the package instructions.
• In a large bowl, combine the warn farro with the tomatoes, pesto, diced chicken and lemon zest and juice. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the mozzarella last so that it maintains its shape and doesn't melt completely. Serve with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan.

ONE-POT MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND FARRO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat a large braiser or large Dutch oven over high heat and add the olive oil. Pat the chicken thighs dry and season with salt and pepper on both sides. When the oil is hot, add the chicken thighs, skin-side down, and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip the chicken, cook for 2 more minutes and remove to a plate. (The chicken will not be cooked through at this point.) Pour off the excess fat from the braiser, leaving behind 2 tablespoons of it.
• Reduce the heat to medium high, add the onions, garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the farro until combined. Add the wine and cook for 1 minute, scraping up the brown bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer, about 2 minutes. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and olives. Place the chicken on top, skin-side up, in a single layer and add any residual juices from the plate.
• Cover the braiser and bake until the farro is tender, most of the liquid has evaporated and the chicken is cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the lemon zest, feta and dill to a small bowl and toss to combine.
• Remove the braiser from the oven and squeeze the juice of the zested lemon over the top of the dish. Sprinkle with the feta and dill mixture and serve.

ROTISSERIE CHICKEN, WHITE BEAN AND FARRO SOUP

Steps:

• For the chicken broth: Add the chicken carcass, thyme, rosemary, oregano, onion, 10 cups cold or room-temperature water, 1 tablespoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to a 4 1/2-quart Dutch oven or large saucepan. Bring the water to a boil and immediately reduce to a simmer. Simmer until the broth has a rich chicken flavor, about 15 minutes. Strain the mixture, making sure to remove all bones and large pieces; it is okay if some of the dried spices go through your strainer. Either use the broth immediately to make this soup or cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
• For the rotisserie chicken, white bean and farro soup: Heat the olive oil in a 4 1/2-quart Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the parsley and zucchini and cook until the zucchini is softened and just beginning to brown in parts, about 5 minutes; season with salt. Add the escarole, stirring to fold it in evenly with the zucchini to help it cook down. Continue to cook, stirring, until the escarole is completely wilted and any excess water from it has cooked off, about 5 minutes; season with salt.
• Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer; this will take different amounts of time depending on if you are using broth from the refrigerator or if you are immediately using the broth after making it. Either way, warm the broth through before stirring in the shredded chicken, white beans and farro. Continue to simmer to warm through the last ingredients, about 5 minutes; add salt to taste. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with Parmesan.

SKILLET-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH FARRO AND HERB PISTOU

Steps:

• Whisk 1/3 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon chives, and next 7 ingredients in a medium bowl. Divide marinade between 2 (gallon-size) resealable plastic freezer bags. Season chicken with 2 1/2 teaspoons salt; place 1 chicken half in each bag. Seal bags, releasing excess air. Chill overnight.
• Place bags side by side in a large pot. Add cold water to cover by 2". Heat water over medium heat until an instant-read thermometer registers 150°F. Turn off heat, cover, and poach chicken for 50 minutes. Transfer bags to a large bowl of ice water to cool, about 15 minutes. Remove chicken from bags; pat dry.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Heat vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add chicken halves, skin side down, so chicken sits against sides of pan. Cook, moving chicken occasionally for even cooking, until skin is browned all over. Flip chicken and transfer skillet to oven. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165°F, about 15 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes.
• To serve, divide Farro with Acorn Squash and Kale among plates. Place chicken on top of farro. Drizzle 1/4 cup Herb Pistou around farro. Drizzle 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil over each plate. Squeeze lemon halves over chicken. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons chives over.