Vickis Favorite Chicken With Grapes Couscous And Roasted Asparagus Food

PAN ROASTED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH GRAPES AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Sprinkle the chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Heat the canola oil in a large, ovenproof high-sided skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Sear the chicken, skin-side down, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Then flip and brown the other side, 3 to 4 minutes. You may need to do this in two batches to avoid crowding the skillet. Transfer the browned chicken and any juices to a baking sheet or large plate.
• Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic, 1 cup of the grapes, the olives, capers, oregano, wine and 1/2 cup water. Stir to combine and cook until the liquid has reduced by half, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the butter. Add the chicken and any juices back to the skillet, skin-side-up. Sprinkle the remaining grapes around the chicken. Continue cooking over medium heat until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Set the oven to broil with a rack set about 4 inches from the broiler.
• Place the skillet underneath the broiler to crisp the chicken skin, about 2 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
• To serve, divide the warm couscous among 4 plates and top each plate with 2 of the chicken thighs and a large spoonful of the sauce.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH GRAPES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Cook the couscous as the label directs, omitting any oil or butter. Fluff with a fork and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and keep warm. Meanwhile, put the chicken and onion on a rimmed baking sheet and toss with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the herbes de Provence, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Arrange the chicken skin-side up and roast until the chicken begins to brown, about 15 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and scatter the grapes on top. Continue roasting until the chicken is golden brown and the grapes are soft, 15 to 20 more minutes. Divide the chicken, onion and grapes among plates and drizzle with the pan drippings. Serve with the couscous.

SHEET-PAN CHICKEN WITH SHALLOTS AND GRAPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss together the chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic and za'atar, if using. Season well with salt and pepper. Place the shallots and the grapes on the sheet pan and gently toss with the remaining olive oil and season well with salt.
• Nestle the chicken skin-side up in between the shallots and grapes and lay the thyme sprigs on top of the mixture. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the shallots and grapes at the edges of the pan begin to soften and caramelize.
• Turn the oven to broil and move the oven rack to sit right below it. Remove and discard the thyme sprigs and broil the chicken for 1 to 2 minutes until the skin of the chicken is crispy and golden. Scatter with chopped thyme and season with flaky salt.

MOJITO CHICKEN AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
• Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Arrange asparagus on baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. Season with salt and black pepper. Roast 10 minutes. Top the asparagus with almonds and roast 5 more minutes, until fork-tender and almonds are golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and sugar and cook 3 minutes, until soft stirring with wooden spoon. Add chicken and saute 3 to 5 minutes, until golden brown on all sides. Add lime juice and carefully, off the heat, add the rum. Return to the heat and add lime zest, salt, pepper and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 3 minutes, until chicken is cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes. Serve chicken, garnished with mint, over couscous with the almond topped asparagus on the side.

CHICKEN & ASPARAGUS WITH COUS COUS

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in large frypan, then add chicken pieces and cook until golden.
• Throw in the bacon, olives (cut up if you wish), asparagus and 3/4 cup of the tomatoes. Cook until chicken is tender and bacon is crisp.
• Pour in the chicken stock and remaining tomatoes and cook until stock has formed a slightly thickened sauce.(Note, some or all of the chicken stock can be replaced with wine if preferred).
• Place frypan in middle of table, along with big bowl of cous cous and let people dig in!

CHICKEN BRAISED WITH GRAPES

Steps:

• Pat chicken parts dry. Melt butter in a 4-quart casserole. Brown chicken on both sides, a few pieces at a time, over medium-high heat, removing pieces to a platter as they finish. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium.
• Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, a couple of minutes until soft. Stir in sherry vinegar, chicken stock and cardamom. Return chicken to the pot and baste with stock mixture. Place grape bunches in pot, add thyme, cover and reduce heat to very low. Let cook 30 minutes. Chicken juices should run clear when thigh or leg is pierced with the tip of a knife.
• Transfer chicken to a warm serving platter and arrange grape clusters on top and around chicken. Tent with foil to keep warm. Heat pot on high, stir in balsamic vinegar and cook 2 to 3 minutes until sauce is somewhat reduced and thickened. Check seasoning. Discard thyme. Spoon sauce over chicken and grapes, and serve.

VICKI'S FAVORITE CHICKEN WITH GRAPES, COUSCOUS AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Trim tough ends of asparagus and save for soup. Place asparagus in a large bowl and toss with about 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of chopped thyme leaves and salt and pepper. Spread the asparagus out on a cookie sheet and roast 10 to 12 minutes until the asparagus is tender and crispy at the tips. Heat a large skillet over medium to medium high heat; add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, and 2 tablespoons butter to the pan. Place flour in a shallow dish. Season chicken with salt and pepper then dredge the tenders in flour and add it to the pan. Cook chicken 7 to 8 minutes until browned. Add wine and scrape up browned bits as wine cooks down and bubbles, 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup stock to skillet. Combine cream and mustard and add to stock. Add grapes to the pan and turn chicken and grapes to coat and combine with the sauce. Simmer 5 minutes over low heat. Bring remaining 2 cups chicken stock and remaining tablespoon of fresh thyme to a boil in a small pot. Add couscous. Put a tight fitting lid on pot and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Serve tenders and grapes on couscous alongside asparagus