Crispy Braised Chicken Thighs Recipes

EMERIL'S BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Season the chicken all over with the Essence and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Place the 1/2 cup flour in a small bowl, and quickly dredge both sides of each thigh in the flour, shaking to remove any excess. Set aside.
• Heat 1 teaspoon of the olive oil in a 10- to 12-inch flameproof casserole or saute pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter, and when it has melted, place the chicken, skin side down, in the pan. Brown for 2 minutes on each side. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the pan, and when it has melted, add the onions, garlic, thyme bundle or rosemary sprigs, remaining 1/2 teaspoon then whisk in the chicken stock and increase the heat to high. Return the chicken, skin side down, to the pan, and bring the stock to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan with a heavy, tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Uncover the pan, stir the bottom of the pan to prevent scorching, and turn the chicken skin side up. Cover the pan, and simmer for 20 minutes longer.
• Stir the bottom of the pan a final time, re-cover, and simmer for 20 more minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and discard the herb bundle or rosemary sprigs. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter. Add the parsley to the sauce, stir to combine, and then spoon the sauce over the chicken. Serve with steamed white rice.

CRISPY BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Season the chicken all over with salt. I recommend doing this by eye knowing the "saltiness" of the salt you use, but if you need a rough guide, try 1/2 tsp per pound of chicken.
• Heat up a 5-quart ovenproof braiser pan* over medium high heat, and add the chicken thighs to the pan, skin side down. I personally do not grease the pan, as so much renders from the skin itself. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the skin is deeply golden, then flip over and cook on the other side for 1 minute. Remove the chicken from the pan, leaving the fat and brown bits in the pan.
• Reduce the heat to medium low, and add the onion and fennel to the pan. Saute for 10 minutes until softened, then add the garlic and saute for 1 more minute, until fragrant.
• Add the white wine to the pan, and increase the heat to medium high. Simmer for 2 minutes. Add the olives, crushed red pepper, lemon peel strips, bay leaf, thyme, and chicken stock, and bring to a boil.
• Return the chicken to the pan skin-side up and place in the oven to cook uncovered for 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through (I check for a doneness temperature of 175F).
• Turn the broiler to high, and cook the chicken for about 2-4 minutes to brown and crisp up the skin (watch carefully). I recommend leaving the pan on the middle rack of the oven so it's not too close to the broiling element. This helps the skin brown more evenly. Serve promptly and enjoy!

CRISPY BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CANNELLINI BEANS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or pot (at least 4 inches high and large enough to hold the chicken thighs in a single layer; see Cook's Note) over medium-high heat.
• Thoroughly pat dry the chicken thighs and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper, seasoning the skins generously. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down in the pot and cook, undisturbed, until the skins are dark golden, about 8 minutes. They will sizzle a lot but don't worry and do not move the chicken thighs. If the pot starts to smoke or smells like the chicken is burning, reduce the heat a little (see Cook's Note).
• Flip chicken thighs and cook the other side until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions to pot. Cook, stirring, until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and herbs and cook, stirring, until the onions and garlic are lightly browned. Add the wine, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot (the wine will help loosen the bits).
• IF USING CANNED BEANS: Return the chicken thighs, skin-side up, to the pot, nestling them between the onions. Add enough chicken stock to cover the onions and garlic and about 3/4 up the chicken thighs, letting the chicken skin sit above the stock. Increase the heat to bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the chicken for 25 minutes.
• Remove 2 to 3 chicken thighs from the pot. Add the beans and stir into the stock. Reposition the chicken thighs in the pot on top of the beans so the chicken skin remains exposed. Return the 2 to 3 chicken thighs to the pot, skin-side up. Add more stock to cover the beans, if necessary. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Carefully stir the greens into the beans, around the chicken, then simmer until the greens are tender, 8 to 10 more minutes.
• IF USING DRIED BEANS: Add the soaked dried beans to the onions and garlic in the pot. Add enough chicken stock to cover the beans by about 2 inches. Increase the heat, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
• Return the chicken thighs, skin-side up, to the pot, nestling them in the beans slightly so that the skin isn't submerged. Simmer, uncovered, until the beans are tender, adding more stock if the beans start to get too dry, for another 35 minutes. Taste the beans and add salt and/or pepper, to taste. Carefully stir the greens into the beans, around the chicken, then simmer until the greens are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Ladle the beans and greens into shallow bowls then top with the chicken thighs. Add a drizzle of olive oil (for the omega-3 balance!), squeeze of lemon and chopped fresh parsley.

CRISPY BAKED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Set a wire rack inside a broiler pan or baking pan.
• Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Lift up skin gently; sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder under the skin. Replace skin. Season skin and underside of the thighs with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Arrange on the rack.
• Roast in the preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Continue roasting until juices run clear, about 30 minutes more. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

CRISPY GARLIC-BROILED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the butter, soy sauce, garlic and pepper. Reserve 1/4 cup soy mixture for basting. Add chicken to remaining soy mixture; turn to coat., Place chicken on a broiler pan, skin side down. Broil 4-6 in. from the heat for 10-15 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 170°-175°. Brush occasionally with reserved soy mixture during the last 10 minutes of cooking.