Mock Chicken Marbella Food

CHICKEN MARBELLA, UPDATED

Steps:

• Combine the olive oil, vinegar, prunes, olives, capers, bay leaves, garlic, oregano, 2 tablespoons salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper in a large bowl. Add the chicken to the marinade. (You can also place the chicken and marinade in a 2-gallon plastic storage bag and squeeze out the air to make sure the chicken is fully covered with the marinade.) Refrigerate overnight, turning occasionally to be sure the marinade is getting into all of the chicken pieces.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the chicken, skin side up, along with the marinade in one layer in a large (15-by-18-inch) roasting pan, sprinkle with the brown sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper, and pour the wine around (not over!) the chicken. Roast for 45 to 55 minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken is 145 degrees F. Remove the pan from the oven, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. Transfer the chicken, prunes, and olives to a serving platter, sprinkle with salt, and serve hot with the pan juices.

MOCK CHICKEN MARBELLA

Steps:

• Add olives and capers to the container of a food processor; process until fairly smooth; set aside.
• Position oven rack so that it is in the center of the oven; preheat to 400°.
• Add balsamic vinaigrette, olive/caper mixture, garlic, oregano, bay leaves, and prunes in a mixing bowl; stir well to combine.
• Add in chicken tenders; fold in.
• Transfer mixture to a 13x9 inch glass or ceramic casserole dish; make sure chicken tenders are in one layer and not on top of one another.
• Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the chicken.
• Pour the wine around the tenders (not on top of the chicken, otherwise the brown sugar will get rinsed off the top of the chicken) Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken has carmelized on top and juices run clear.
• Discard bay leaves.
• Good served warm with rice or couscous; also good served cold.

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN MARBELLA

Steps:

• In a 5- to 6-qt slow cooker, whisk together the wine, brown sugar, oregano, 2 Tbsp of the vinegar, and 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper. Add the garlic, capers, prunes and olives and mix to combine.
• Add the chicken, nestling it among the olives and prunes. Cover and cook until the meat is tender and cooked through, on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours; gently stir in the remaining Tbsp vinegar and parsley.
• Thirty minutes before serving, cook the rice according to package directions. Serve the chicken, prunes, olives and cooking liquid over the rice.

CHICKEN MARBELLA

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine chicken quarters, garlic, oregano, pepper and coarse salt to taste, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, apricots (if using), olives, capers and juice, bay leaves, brown sugar and white wine.
• Cover and let marinate, refrigerated, overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Arrange chicken in a single layer in a large, shallow baking pan and spoon marinade over it evenly.
• Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, basting frequently with pan juices. Chicken is done when thigh pieces, pricked with a fork at their thickest, yield clear yellow (rather than pink) juice.
• With a slotted spoon transfer chicken, prunes, olives and capers to a serving platter. Moisten with a few spoonfuls of pan juices and sprinkle generously with parsley or cilantro. Pass remaining pan juices in a sauceboat.
• Note: To serve Chicken Marbella cold, cool to room temperature in cooking juices before transferring to a serving platter. If chicken has been covered and refrigerated, allow it to return to room temperature before serving. Spoon some of the reserved juices over chicken.

WEEKNIGHT CHICKEN MARBELLA

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high until shimmering and tiny wisps of smoke are visible, about 2 minutes. Add chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until deep golden brown, about 10 minutes. (Covering the chicken speeds up the cook time and prevents the oil from splattering all over your stovetop.) Flip chicken, cover again and cook until golden on second side, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute.
• Arrange prunes, olives, capers and brine, bay leaves and oregano in between chicken pieces. Sprinkle with brown sugar, 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; pour wine and vinegar over top and bring to a boil. Reduce to low, cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a serving platter and return pan to high heat. Cook sauce, swirling occasionally, until reduced and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Spoon pan sauce over chicken and serve.

CHICKEN MARBELLA

Steps:

• Wash chicken in cold water, pat dry and cut into quarters.
• In a large bowl, combine garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, olives, capers, bay leaves and mix well. Add chicken quarters and coat well with marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to marinate.
• NEXT DAY: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange chicken in a single layer in a 9" x 13" oven proof casserole dish or a shallow baking pan.
• Spoon marinade evenly over chicken. Sprinkle chicken with brown sugar. Pour white wine into the dish, (NOT OVER THE CHICKEN).
• Bake in preheated 350F oven for 50 to 60 minutes, basting frequently with pan juices. Note: Chicken is done when thigh pieces are pricked with a fork at their thickest and no pink is showing.
• With a slotted spoon, transfer chicken, prunes, olives and capers to a serving platter. Moisten chicken with a few spoonfuls of pan juices. Sprinkle generously with finely chopped fresh parsley. Pour remainder of pan juices into a sauceboat and serve along with the chicken for those who desire more liquid.
• NOTES: The overnight marination is essential to the moistness of the finished product. The chicken improves over a couple days of refrigeration. It also travels well and makes excellent picnic fare. Also, you may make this recipe with small drumsticks. It makes delicious hor d'oeuvres. This recipe doubles very easily if serving large groups. Bake in a large roasting pan.