Lidia Bastianich Chicken Thigh Food

CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CREAMY MUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the chicken thighs on a cutting board, skin side up, and pat them dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Turn them over and sprinkle them with one more teaspoon of salt.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large (11 to 12-inch) cast-iron skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, place the chicken in the pan in one layer, skin side down. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes without moving, until the skin is golden brown. (If the skin gets too dark, turn the heat to medium low.) Turn the chicken pieces with tongs, add the onions to the pan, including under the chicken, and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring the onions occasionally, until the thighs are cooked to 155 to 160 degrees and the onions are browned. Transfer the chicken (not the onions) to a plate and allow to rest uncovered while you make the sauce. If the onions aren't browned, cook them for another minute.
• Add the wine, creme fraiche, Dijon mustard, whole-grain mustard, and 1 teaspoon salt to the skillet and stir over medium heat for one minute. Return the chicken, skin side up, and the juices to the skillet, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot.

CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• Season the chicken all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pour enough vegetable oil into a large Dutch oven to cover the bottom of the pan, over medium heat. When the oil is hot, brown the chicken all over in batches, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken to a plate. Discard the vegetable oil.
• Add the olive oil to the pot, and bring to medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the vegetables. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions and celery are caramelized on the edges, about 5 minutes. Put the chicken back in the pot, and pour in the white wine. Drop in the rosemary. Boil until the wine is reduced by half, then add the chopped porcini and the soaking liquid, omitting any gritty residue in the soaking liquid. Once the liquid returns to a boil, add the tomatoes. Rinse out the can with 1 cup hot water and add that as well. Bring to a boil, and simmer to let the sauce come together, about 5 minutes.
• Pour in the sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, oregano, and the remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Cover, bring to a simmer, and cook until the vegetables have begun to soften, about 10 minutes. Uncover, and cook until the sauce has reduced and the chicken is tender, about 15 to 20 minutes more.
• NOTE
• The chicken gets cut up as follows: two wings, two thighs, two drumsticks, back in two pieces, breast halves in three pieces each.

CHICKEN LIVERS AND ONIONS, SAUTEED (LIDIA BASTIANICH)

Steps:

• FRYING THE ONIONS:.
• Put the raisins in a bowl with warm water to cover, so they plump up for a few minutes.
• Slice the onions in half and then crosswise into 1/4-inch thick half moons.:).
• Put 2 tablespoons of oil and 2 of butter in one of the skillets and set it over medium heat.
• As the butter melts, stir in the onions, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and drop in the bay leaves.
• Shake the pan and turn the onions as they heat and start to sizzle, then lower the heat slightly and cook the onions slowly as they gradually wilt and start to color, stirring and tossing them occasionally.
• After 15 minutes or so, when the onions are deep gold all over, raise the heat a bit, pour in the 2 tablespoons of vinegar and cook for a minute, stirring the onions in the vinegar as it steams and evaporates.
• Drain the raisins and gently squeeze out the excess liquid; scatter them in the skillet and toss together with the onions.
• Now lower the heat and continue cooking the onions until they're as dark and caramelized as you want them be.
• Turn off the heat and let the onions rest in the hot pan.
• CLEANING & FRYING THE LIVERS:.
• While the onions are cooking, clean the livers (I do this on paper towels): with a paring knife remove all the fat, veins and membranes and slice the livers into separate lobes.
• Rinse them well then pat dry with fresh paper towels.
• Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt and grind pepper on all surfaces of the livers.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 of butter in the second skillet, over medium-high heat, until the butter is melted and foaming.
• Before the butter begins to color, lay the livers in the pan, without crowding them.
• With the heat high, cook the livers for 2 minutes or a bit more, until they're browned and crisped on the underside, then turn them over (in the order in which you put them in the pan).
• Cook about 2 minutes on the second side until they are nicely crisped all over and lift them-a couple at a time-with a spider or slotted spoon, let the oil drain off and place them in the first warm skillet, next to the onions.
• Don't overcook the livers: they should still be slightly pink inside when you move them.
• Taste a piece and season with more salt and pepper if you want.
• If you will be serving right away, heap the onions on top of the livers, then spoon onions and liver together onto warm serving plates.
• If serving is delayed, leave the onions and livers in separate parts of the pan so the livers don't get soggy.
• Smother the livers with onions when you serve with white fluffy rice with almonds or I prefer, broad noodles with parslied butter.
• Yum!

CHICKEN WITH EGGPLANT (LIDIA BASTIANICH)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400ºF degrees.
• Trim the eggplants, and peel if you prefer. Lidia stripes them,
• Slice on an angle, so that you have 12 good slices in all.
• Dredge the eggplant in flour that has been seasoned with salt, pepper & Italian seasoning.
• Heat a large skillet (preferably with a lid), add enough oil to coat the bottom, and fry the eggplant on medium-high heat until caramelized on both sides.
• Set aside on paper towels to drain while you make the chicken.
• Lightly pound the chicken breasts and dredge in the seasoned flour.
• Reheat the same skillet on medium heat, add two tablespoons of oil and tablespoons of butter, swirling to mix.
• Cook the chicken until caramelized on the one side.
• You want the chicken to brown--but do not try to hasten the process by cooking it on high heat.
• You want to do it over gentle heat so as not to toughen the meat.
• Turn them over to caramelize on the other side, and top each breast with two slices of eggplant, then a spoonful of sauce, two basil leaves, and a good sprinkling of cheese, and as much Italian seasoning as you want.
• Let cook for about two minutes, turn up the heat to medium-high, add the wine to the pan, then the remaining tomato sauce.
• Shake the pan a bit to mix, add in the last two tablespoons of butter and shake again to mix.
• Put the lid on the pan (if your pan does not have a lid, cover with foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray) and finish cooking in the oven--approx 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven and serve with a flourish.
• Try to use homemade tomato sauce, this is one of those dishes where you will be greatly rewarded for using the homemade sauce.
• To cut down on the fat/calories, you can grill or roast the eggplant instead.
• It is this final oven cooking that makes the chicken meltingly tender and the wine, tomato sauce and butter transform themselves into an incredible sauce.