Mediterranean Braised Chicken Thighs Food

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Mix salt, pepper, cumin and cayenne and rub mixtures over the chicken thighs.
• In large heavy skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Saute chicken until golden brown. Remove from pan. Drain, leaving 2 tablespoons fat.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add onion and garlic and saute about 10 minutes.
• Turn heat to high and add sherry to the onion and garlic mixture. Cook until the liquid is reduced, about 5 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaves, olives,basil and salt and pepper to taste. Return chicken to pan.
• Cook,covered, about 35 to 40 minutes,until chicken begins to fall away from the bone. Serve over couscous.

EASY WINE-BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine the spices to make the spice mixture.
• Pat chicken dry and season well with salt on both sides. Now season with the spice mixture on both sides (make sure to lift skin up and rub some of the spice mixture underneath.) Leave aside for 20 minutes or refrigerate uncovered for 2 hours if you have the time.
• In a large braiser or Dutch oven (like this one), heat 1 to 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking (be sure to coat the bottom well with the EVOO.) Add chicken, skin side down, and cook undisturbed for 8 minutes until golden brown (lower heat if it starts to smoke excessively.) Turn chicken over and brown on the other side briefly (about 3 minutes). Transfer chicken to a plate for now.
• To the pot, add shallots and garlic. Cook briefly over medium heat until softer and fragrant. Stir in tomato paste, wine, and broth. Add bay leaves and 1tsp dry rosemary. Season with just a pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer for 4 minutes or so.
• Carefully nestle chicken into the liquid, making sure the liquid covers only 3/4 of the chicken thighs leaving the skins exposed. Add dry figs (or apricots) to the pot. Bring to a simmer.
• Transfer chicken to oven and cook, uncovered, until totally tender and liquid has reduced by about half, about 40-45 minutes (Check half way through to be sure liquid is okay, you should still have some liquid in the end.)
• While chicken is cooking, heat a small non stick pan, adding a very small drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add mushrooms and saute.
• About 10 minutes or before the chicken has finished cooking, add mushrooms. Return to oven for those last 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Finish with lemon juice and a garnish of fresh parsley.
• Serve with Lebanese rice (making sure to get some of the pan juice on top). Add a side of Greek Bean salad, of balela salad or fattoush salad.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN THIGHS WITH POTATOES, PEPPERS AND FETA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degree F. Heat a large, high-sided, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the skin side of the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil to the hot pan and place the chicken in the pan, skin-side down. Sprinkle the other side of the chicken with salt and pepper. Let the chicken cook until it easily releases from the pan and is golden brown, about 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and allow to cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.
• Turn the heat down to medium and add the onion, peppers and red pepper flakes and sprinkle with salt. Let the vegetables cook, stirring regularly, until slightly wilted, about 3 minutes. The natural liquid from the vegetables will help deglaze the pan. Add in the potatoes and garlic and sprinkle with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for an additional 3 minutes. Add in the tomatoes, vinegar, oregano, thyme and artichoke hearts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Turn off the heat and nestle the chicken thighs on top of the vegetables.
• Transfer the pan to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F and the potatoes are fork tender, about 35 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle with feta cheese and parsley.

MEDITERRANEAN BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS RECIPE

Steps:

• Remove the chicken from the fridge 20 minutes before cooking to remove the chill.
• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.
• In a large ovenproof pan or Dutch oven large enough to hold all the thighs in a single layer, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
• When the oil is hot, add the chicken, skin-side down, and sear until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic cloves to the pan and flip the thighs over. Cook until the garlic is fragrant and has gotten a little brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove the chicken and garlic from the pan, and set aside.
• With the pan still hot, add the onions, lemon slices and oregano, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onions have wilted and the brown bits on the bottom of the pan have loosened, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Nestle the thighs skin-side up in the onion mixture and add the garlic and the olives.
• Pour the lemon juice over the chicken and transfer the pan to the oven.
• Bake for 40 to 50 minutes.
• Scatter fresh oregano leaves over the top and serve.

MEDITERRANEAN-INSPIRED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, skin-side down, to the hot oil. Sear until skin is browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn and brown the other side, about 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and drain excess fat from the skillet.
• Return the skillet to medium-high heat. Add chicken broth, 2 lemon wedges, and rosemary sprigs. Reserve remaining lemon wedges for serving. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
• Cover skillet and place in the preheated oven. Bake until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Remove from the oven and squeeze juice from the 2 hot lemon wedges over the chicken. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with additional lemon wedges.

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Place chicken thighs in a large zip-top plastic bag set in a large bowl.
• In another bowl, mix together wine, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, the rosemary, lemon peel, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Pour marinade over chicken and seal the bag.
• Place bag in the refrigerator and marinate for 4 hours or overnight, turning the bag occasionally.
• In a medium bowl, add cucumbers, tomatoes, 1 tablespoon oil, vinegar, remaining oregano, salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover and chill in the refrigerator up to 4 hours.
• When ready to grill, drain chicken and discard marinade.
• Place chicken on grill over medium heat.
• Grill for 12-15 minutes or until juices run clear, turning once.
• Serve with cucumber-tomato relish.