Oak Town Garlic Vinegar Chicken Food

ARUGULA PISTACHIO PESTO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rinse the chicken under cold water and pat dry. Slip your fingers under the breast skin and gently create a pocket the length of both breasts. Season the inside of the cavity with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Add the arugula and 5 cloves of the garlic to a food processor fitted a blade. Pulse 3 to 4 times, then add 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, squeeze in the juice of 1/2 lemon and pulse 3 to 4 more times. Add the cheese and pistachios, and with the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil. Scrape down sides and pulse a few more times. Adjust seasoning, if necessary.
• Gently work half of the pesto under the breast skin. Reserve the other half of the pesto. Put the other lemon half into the cavity along with the remaining 2 peeled garlic cloves. Rub the chicken all over with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Season the outside of the chicken with the remaining salt and pepper. Tuck the wing tips under the bird, and truss the chicken. Put the chicken, on its side, into a roasting pan and put in hot oven. Roast at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes, rotate chicken onto other side, and roast for 15 minutes more. Carefully turn chicken onto its back (breast side up), reduce heat to 350 degrees F and roast for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, begin basting it with the pan juices. Repeat until chicken is done and an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F.
• Remove the roasting pan from the oven, put the chicken on a carving board and tent it with foil. Remove the fat on the top of the pan juices. Put the roasting pan over a burner on medium heat and add 1/3 cup of the reserved pesto. Stir and incorporate it into the pan juices along with any bits that might be on the bottom of the pan. Whisk the cornstarch and the half-and-half in a small bowl and slowly add it to the pan. Stir continually until the mixture starts to thicken. Adjust seasonings, if necessary, and pour it into a serving bowl.
• Carve the chicken, arrange it on a serving platter and serve with the sauce.

OAK TOWN GARLIC VINEGAR CHICKEN

Steps:

• In large saute pan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons oil and lightly brown chicken thighs.
• Add onions, chilies and saute for 3 minutes until translucent.
• Add 1/4 cup garlic and saute.
• Deglaze with beer and chicken stock.
• Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until chicken is 3/4 of the way cooked.
• Remove chicken from saute pan, and let cool, reserve pan and braising broth.
• In medium saute pan heat another 2 tablespoons olive oil and lightly caramelize remaining 1/2 cup garlic.
• When done, remove from heat, and let cool.
• In medium mixing bowl, combine, flour, salt and pepper, oregano, paprika, and chili powder.
• Combine thoroughly, add cooked garlic and mix into a paste.
• Take cooled, cooked chicken and press paste on to the chicken.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in garlic pan, and gently place chicken in the pan.
• Lightly brown chicken on both sides.
• Simmer reserved braising broth and add red wine vinegar.
• When chicken is cooked on both sides, pour vinegar broth over chicken and let simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Garnish with green onions.

GENERAL GUY'S CHINESE CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the sauce: Heat the sesame oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the ginger-garlic paste and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Raise the heat to medium-high and add the chicken stock, soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, vinegar, mirin, orange zest and pepper flakes. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cornstarch slurry and stir until the sauce is thickened. Keep warm.
• For the chicken: With a mallet or a heavy pan, pound the chicken to an even 1/4-inch thickness. Add the chicken to a large resealable bag along with the soy sauce and ginger-garlic paste. Seal the bag and leave the chicken to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Beat the eggs in a wide, shallow bowl. In a large plate mix together the flour, granulated garlic and ground ginger. In another plate, mix together the panko and sesame seeds. Sprinkle all three dishes with salt and pepper. Dredge the chicken first in the flour, then in the egg and lastly in the panko.
• Slick a large skillet with peanut oil and set over medium-high heat. In batches, fry the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. As you go, keep cooked chicken warm in the oven on a wire rack set over a baking sheet.
• Slice the chicken into thick strips and arrange on a serving platter. Drizzle chicken with the sauce and garnish with sesame seeds and scallions.
• Pulse the garlic and ginger in a food processor. With the processor running, stream in the canola oil and process to a paste. (You'll need 4 tablespoons of the paste for the present recipe. Refrigerate remaining paste for up to a week.)

MU SHU CHICKEN

Steps:

• Whisk the hoisin, soy, mirin, sesame oil, garlic and ginger in a mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add the sliced chicken and toss to coat evenly. Marinate the chicken, covered, at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Once 5 minutes of marinating time remains, heat a large wok or skillet over high heat and add 2 tablespoons of the canola oil to heat. Using a slotted spoon, strain the chicken add to the very hot wok or skillet. Cook, allowing it to brown, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes. Add the red bell pepper and the onion slices, allowing them to soften, another minute. Next, add the cabbages and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until just browning, about 2 minutes. Push the chicken and vegetables to the side of the wok and stir in the mushrooms, bamboo shoots and water chestnuts. Remove from the heat and set aside, keeping warm.
• Place a nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil. Add the beaten eggs to the skillet, allowing to scramble, 2 to 3 minutes. Once cooked, break up the eggs with a rubber spatula and add to the chicken. Toss to combine.
• Spread about 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce on each Chinese Crepes with Scallions. Top with some mu shu chicken, sesame seeds and scallions. Add cilantro leaves if desired. Roll up like a crepe and serve with Sriracha if desired.
• In a medium glass mixing bowl, whisk the flours, salt, 1 cup water, the sesame oil and eggs; the batter should be smooth and free of lumps.
• Heat a crepe pan or 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Very lightly coat the skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Ladle in 1/4 cup of the batter. Gently rotate the skillet for a few seconds, swirling the batter to create a thin, even layer over the bottom. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons scallions to each pancake at this point. Cook the pancake until the underside is pale and just firmed up, about 1 minute.
• Flip the pancake over and cook for another 30 seconds. Remove from the skillet and transfer to a plate and cover with a kitchen towel. Continue with the rest of the batter until all the pancakes have been made. Keep warm until ready to serve.

CHICKEN IN VINEGAR

Steps:

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet until foaming, then, a few pieces at a time, brown the chicken well on all sides. You're not cooking the chicken here; just making the skin crisp and giving it color, so 5 minutes per side is about right. Remove the chicken to a plate.
• Add the garlic to the pan and cook about 10 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the vinegar and boil to reduce by half, 10 to 15 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste. Using a piece of kitchen twine, tie together the thyme, parsley, and bay leaf. Add the herb bundle to the chicken and simmer, uncovered, until the meat falls from the bone, about 30 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a dish, cover, and keep warm.
• Pour the stock into the pan juices and boil until thickened, about 10 minutes. Strain into a saucepan, and if it's still not concentrated enough for you liking, boil it down a little more. Whisk in the remaining tablespoon of butter. Season, and pour over the chicken. Serve with chopped parsley, sprinkled over, and with a bowl of roasted or mashed potatoes on the side.

CHICKEN IN VINEGAR

Steps:

• Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Melt the butter and olive oil in a saute pan and brown the chicken, a few pieces at a time. You're not cooking the chicken here, just making the skin crisp and giving it color and flavor. Five minutes per side is about right. Remove the chicken to a dish. Add the garlic and cook for 5 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the vinegar and boil down by half, about 10 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan, and pour in the stock. Add the tomato paste, tomatoes, bay leaf and thyme. Simmer, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked, about 30 minutes. Remove the chicken to a clean dish and keep warm. Strain the cooking liquid into a saucepan, pressing to get all the juices through, and whisk in the last spoonful of butter. Pour over the chicken. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve.

STRATHEARN ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the chicken brine: Combine 1 cup water, the honey, salt, bay leaves, garlic and thyme in a large saucepot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once at a boil, turn off the heat and add the ice cubes. Place the chicken and brine into a large resealable gallon plastic bag. Refrigerate, brining the chicken, for 1 hour.
• For the honey glaze: In a small saucepot over medium-low heat, whisk the honey, vinegar and orange juice until just simmering. Remove from the heat and set aside at room temperature until ready to use.
• For the chicken: Once brined, remove the chicken quarters from the bag and pat dry. Sprinkle the chicken with the salt and pepper and place skin-side down into a cast-iron pan. Place into the oven. Roast until the internal temperature reads 155 degrees F, about 50 minutes, flipping halfway through the baking time. Remove from the oven, brush the chicken with the honey glaze, and then return to the oven. Finish roasting the chicken until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F, about 15 minutes. Remove the chicken and allow to rest about 10 minutes. Reserve the pan drippings.
• For the gravy: To the same cast-iron pan, over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Add the mushrooms, garlic and shallots, and toss to combine. Allow to soften, being careful not to burn. Season with salt and pepper. Add the flour and whisk to incorporate with the fat. Continue cooking out the starch for about 2 minutes. Add the white wine and scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Reduce for about 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and reduce by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and drizzle in some truffle oil. Swirl in the butter. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange the chicken pieces on a serving dish, finishing with the truffle gravy.