Lemon Grass Chicken With Herbed Orzo Food

ROAST LEMON CHICKEN WITH ORZO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil. Loosen the chicken skin with your fingers; rub 1 tablespoon olive oil over and under the skin. Stuff the lemon slices and garlic under the skin; season the outside with salt and pepper. Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet, skin-side up. Roast until crisp and cooked through, about 25 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned in spots, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, the onion and thyme to the skillet; cook, stirring, until the onion is tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in the orzo and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups water and a pinch of salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat; discard the thyme and stir in the asparagus and chives. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the chicken and lemon wedges.

CRISPY CHICKEN WITH LEMON ORZO

Steps:

• Combine the flour, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a shallow bowl. Remove the tenders on the underside of the chicken breasts and save for another use. (This makes the chicken breasts an even thickness so they cook evenly.) Heat the canola oil and 4 tablespoons of the butter together in a large (12-inch) cast-iron skillet over medium heat until the butter has melted and begins to sizzle.
• Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture and shake off any excess. Place the chicken, skin side down, in the skillet and cook over medium heat without moving for 12 minutes. With the chicken still skin side down, place the skillet in the oven and roast for 10 minutes.
• Return the skillet to the stovetop over medium heat (careful; the handle will be hot!). Turn the chicken skin side up, add the remaining 5 tablespoons of butter, and continue cooking for 3 to 5 minutes, until the butter is a nutty brown color and the chicken breasts are just cooked through (an instant-read thermometer will register 130 to 140 degrees F). Off the heat, sprinkle on the parsley.
• Divide the Lemon Orzo with Feta among four dinner plates. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and slice each breast crosswise in thick slices. Arrange one breast on each plate with the orzo. Spoon a few tablespoons of the brown butter over each chicken breast, squeeze on some lemon, and sprinkle with salt. Serve hot with a fresh wedge of lemon on each plate.
• In a large saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add 2 teaspoons salt and the orzo. Return the water to a boil and simmer uncovered for 9 to 11 minutes, until the orzo is al dente. Drain.
• Transfer the orzo to a bowl and stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Fold in the feta and serve hot.

ORZO WITH LEMON AND HERBS

Steps:

• In a large nonreactive saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a rolling boil over moderate heat. Add the orzo and cook, stirring often to prevent sticking until most of the broh is absorbed and the orzo is tender an creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the oil, then the lemon juice and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Serve, or tranfser to a baking dish and keep warm in a 350°F oven for up to 20 minutes.