Pomegranate Glazed Chicken With Herb Pilaf Food

CRISPY ZA'ATAR CHICKEN PILAF WITH POMEGRANATE

Steps:

• Toss together the chicken thighs oil, 1 tsp salt, garlic and lemon juice in a large bowl. Cover and chill for at least 1 hr, or up to 12 hrs.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, and heat a frying pan over a high heat. Fry the chicken, skin-side down, for 5-7 mins, or until golden and crisp. Transfer to a baking tray and sprinkle with the za'atar, then roast for 10 mins.
• For the rice, heat the oil and butter in a large, shallow casserole or frying pan over a low-medium heat. Fry the onions with a pinch of salt for 15 mins until caramelised and sticky. Stir in the rice, stock, pistachios and chilli flakes. Season. Arrange the roasted chicken thighs on top of the rice, and pour over any roasting juices from the tray. Cook in the oven for 45 mins, or until the rice is tender. Remove from the oven, cover and rest for 5 mins.
• Scatter the chicken pilaf with the pomegranate seeds and parsley, then serve in shallow bowls.

POMEGRANATE-GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring pomegranate juice and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan over high, and cook, whisking occasionally, until reduced by half, about 16 minutes. Whisk together 2 tablespoons water and cornstarch in a small bowl; add to pomegranate mixture. Boil, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; whisk in mustard and butter until smooth.
• Meanwhile, heat a grill pan over medium-high. Season chicken with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Brush 1 tablespoon oil on pan. Cook chicken until browned, about 6 minutes. Turn and cook until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 165°F, about 6 minutes, turning if necessary to prevent burning. Remove from pan; cover to keep warm.
• Place quinoa, pistachios, pomegranate arils, chopped mint, remaining 1 tablespoon oil, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl; stir until combined. Divide quinoa mixture and chicken among 4 plates. Spoon 2 tablespoons pomegranate sauce over each serving; garnish with mint leaves.

PERSIAN CHICKEN PILAF

Steps:

• Soak the rice in cold water for 30 minutes. Rinse and drain.
• Meanwhile, heat a glug of oil in a shallow casserole with a lid and, in batches, brown the chicken all over. Remove and set aside.
• In the same casserole, melt the butter, then add the cinnamon stick, zest, pomegranate molasses and raisins. Fry for 2 minutes, then remove from the pan and set aside.
• Spoon a thin layer of washed rice over the bottom of the casserole. In a large bowl, toss the remaining rice with the set-aside fruit/zest/spices and season well. Spoon into the casserole, then top with the chicken, pushing the pieces into the rice. Pour over the water. Using a chopstick (or similar), make 4-5 holes in the rice and pour over the saffron and its cooking water. Wrap the casserole lid in a clean tea towel and cover the pan, tucking in the ends away from the flame. Cook gently for 30 minutes.
• Spoon onto a platter and top with pine nuts, herbs and fried onions, then serve with yogurt.

POMEGRANATE-GLAZED CHICKEN BREAST WITH BASMATI PILAF

Steps:

• Combine rice, stock, and bay leaf in a medium, heavy saucepan; season with 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover; reduce heat, and simmer until rice is tender, about 45 minutes. Drain rice; discard bay leaf. Let cool completely.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Put garlic and lemon juice into a small heatproof bowl; set aside. Cut pomegranates in half. Remove seeds from two halves; set aside 3/4 cup seeds (reserve any remaining seeds for another use). Extract juice from remaining four halves with a citrus juicer or reamer. Strain into a small saucepan. (You should have about 1 cup juice.)
• Cook pomegranate juice over medium heat until syrupy and reduced to 1/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Stir into lemon juice and garlic; let glaze cool completely.
• Brush 2 teaspoons oil over bottom of a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Season both sides of chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Put chicken, bone side down, into prepared dish; brush all over with glaze. Roast, brushing with glaze every 8 to 10 minutes and adding 1/4 cup water each time, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 165 degrees, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Brush chicken with pan glaze. Tent dish with foil; let chicken rest 10 minutes.
• Heat remaining tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and translucent, about 6 minutes. Stir in cumin, and cook 1 minute. Add rice; cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in nuts, scallion, cilantro, pomegranate seeds, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Remove from heat. Divide rice mixture among 4 plates. Remove chicken from bone, and cut on the diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange over rice, dividing evenly. Garnish with cilantro sprigs.

POMEGRANATE-GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with rack in top third. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil; set aside.
• Make glaze: In a large skillet, combine juices, rosemary, garlic, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Boil over high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 15 minutes, stirring and scraping down sides of skillet with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a liquid-measuring cup; stir in vinegar. Reserve cup glaze for serving.
• Meanwhile, season chicken with salt and pepper. Place, skin side up, on prepared baking sheet; bake 15 minutes, then brush chicken with glaze. Continue baking, brushing with glaze every 5 minutes, until chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes (an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part, avoiding bone, should register 165 degrees). Let rest 5 minutes; drizzle with reserved glaze. Serve.

CHICKEN & POMEGRANATE BULGUR PILAF

Steps:

• Heat a little oil in a large casserole dish (with a tight-fitting lid). Coat the chicken pieces with some seasoning, and half of the spice mix and add to the pan, brown well on all sides.
• Add the remaining spice mix and cook for 1 min. Pour over the stock, season and stir, then cover and cook for 25 mins over a low-medium heat.
• Remove the lid, increase the heat to a medium simmer and add the bulgur wheat. Cook for 10 mins, then re-cover, turn off the heat and leave to stand for a further 10 mins.
• When all the liquid has been absorbed and the bulgur wheat is tender, stir through the chopped mint and scatter over the pomegranate seeds.

POMEGRANATE GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• GLAZE: Combine first 6 ingredients. Reserve.
• Place pomegranate juice and cornstarch in a small bowl, stir until mixture is combined. Reserved.
• CHICKEN: Heat oil on medium-high in a large deep skillet. Brown chicken, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from skillet. Reserve.
• Add carrots and sliced onion to skillet. Cook on medium heat 5 minutes, stirring often. Add reserved glaze mixture. Bring to a boil, lower heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes. Add back browned chicken. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, turning occasionally to coat with glaze.
• Remove chicken and place on clean dish. Add reserved cornstarch mixture into skillet; stir to combine well.
• Bring glaze to boil and allow to thicken. Add pomegranate seeds and place chicken back in skillet and turn to coat with glaze. Serve on rice.