had yummy leftover Rec: Braised Chicken with Quick-Preserved Meyer Lemons
Braised Chicken with Quick-Preserved Meyer Lemons
2 meyer lemons (Pat’s note: have also used regular lemons)
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1-1/2 tsp each coriander seeds and cumin seeds
1 tsp each sweet paprika and ground ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 whole chicken, about 4 lbs. (Pat’s note: I used thighs)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or stock
1 15-oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 tbsp fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
Slice the lemons into rounds about 1/8-inch thick, discarding any seeds. Sprinkle 1 tbsp salt on a plate and arrange the lemon slices on the salt. Sprinkle the slices with another 1 tbsp salt. Let stand while preparing the chicken.
Toast the coriander and cumin seeds together in a small frypan over medium heat, about 2-3 minutes, then pour onto a plate to cool. Using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder, finely grind the coriander and cumin. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the paprika, ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne. Cut the chicken into pieces, then season with 1-1/2 tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper.
In a Dutch oven or other heavy pot with a lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat until very hot but not smoking. Working in batches, add the chicken, skin side down, and cook, turning once or twice, until deeply browned on both sides, about 10 minutes per batch. Transfer to a platter. (Pat's note: Discard any excess fat that may have rendered from the chicken and keep just a little for the next step of sauteeing the onion.) Add the onion and saute until golden, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the spice mixture and stir for 15 seconds. Stir in the drained tomatoes and broth and bring to a boil, scraping up the browned bits from the pan bottom. Return the drumsticks, thighs, and wings, then the breasts, to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 40 minutes. Meanwhile, rinse and drain the lemon slices and finely dice them.
Stir the diced lemon and chickpeas into the pot and continue to cook until the chicken shows no sign of pink when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife near the bone, 5-10 minutes longer. Remove the pot from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Skim off any fat that rises to the top of the cooking liquid. Transfer the chicken to a warmed deep platter and sprinkle with the cilantro. Serve.
Source: Williams Sonoma New Flavors for Chicken cookbook
Pat’s notes: Really good Day 1 and even better Day 2. Sometimes I omit the lemons and just add fresh squeezed lime juice to taste, at the end (about 1 or 2 limes).