Pan Roasted Spiced Chicken With Fresh Figs And Port Food

PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH FIGS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C) and place a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken all over with the salt and pepper. Add the oil to the skillet and swirl to coat. Once shimmering, add the chicken, skin side down and allow it to sear for 5-10 minutes, or until the skin is brown. Flip and cook for 2-3 minutes on the other side. Remove to a platter.
• To the hot pan, add the shallots and figs and sauté for 2-3 minutes, or until the shallots are golden brown. Add the olives, wine and thyme sprigs and boil for a minute or so, scraping up any browned bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan.
• Return the chicken to the pan, skin side up and place in the oven. Roast the chicken for 30 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH FIGS AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss chicken with salt, rosemary, garlic, citrus zest and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight (the longer the better).
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Spread chicken pieces out on two rimmed baking sheets, making sure there is plenty of room between the pieces. Arrange figs among the chicken pieces, then scatter jalapeño slices on top. Drizzle everything generously with olive oil.
• Roast, switching the position of the baking pans after 15 minutes so everything browns evenly, until the chicken is golden and cooked through. This should take about 25 to 30 minutes for the breast meat, and 30 to 40 for the dark meat. Serve chicken with the orange or lemon wedges for squeezing, if you like.

PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH PORT AND WHOLE-GRAIN MUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat an ovenproof skillet large enough to hold the chicken over high heat. Add the olive oil and swirl it in the skillet. As soon as you begin to see slight wisps of smoke, carefully place the chicken skin side down in the skillet. Sear the chicken, undisturbed, while reducing the heat little by little to medium, until its skin has turned golden brown and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Carefully turn the chicken skin side up.
• Put the skillet into the oven and cook until the chicken is deep golden brown and the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced with a skewer, about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on its size. When the chicken is done, transfer it to the plate and keep warm.
• Pour off all but a thin layer of fat from the skillet. Add the port, put the skillet over high heat, and reduce until half remains. Add the chicken stock and reduce again. (If using BBQ sauce, you don't have to reduce.) Add the cream, bring it to a boil, and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the Dijon and Meaux mustards and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Return the chicken to the skillet and sprinkle with parsley and tarragon.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH FIGS

Steps:

• Separate legs and thighs if not already done. Pat chicken pieces very dry. Season with salt and pepper. Cut top half-inch off onions. Peel onions, and quarter them vertically, cutting only a bit off the root end so each quarter stays intact.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Heat butter in a heavy ovenproof skillet, preferably one large enough to hold chicken in a single layer. Over medium-high heat, brown chicken well on both sides. If skillet is not large enough to hold all the chicken, brown it in stages, and transfer it to a roasting pan that will hold it all.
• Tuck onion quarters, thyme and bay leaves around chicken. Add white wine and enough chicken stock so liquid is about 1/2-inch deep in pan. Place chicken in oven, and cook until chicken is done, about 40 minutes.
• Remove from oven to stove. Place figs around the chicken. Place pan over medium-high heat, bring contents to a simmer, and cook a few minutes until sauce starts to get syrupy. Warm honey and vinegar in a small saucepan, and drizzle over chicken. Turning chicken in pan, cook a few minutes more, basting with pan juices.
• Remove bay leaves, check seasonings, and serve, dividing the ingredients so each plate gets a chicken leg and thigh, and 4 pieces each of fig and onion.