Fig Braised Chicken With Spiced Walnuts Recipes

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.

SPICED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH DRIED FIGS

Steps:

• Combine the rice, cinnamon stick, 1 bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 1/2 cups water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and stir. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 17 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside, covered.
• Meanwhile, season the chicken with salt and the paprika. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and heat until shimmering. Add the chicken and cook, undisturbed, until well browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the other side, 3 to 5 more minutes. Remove to a plate.
• Add the shallot to the skillet; cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Stir in the figs, then add the vinegar and remaining 2 bay leaves. Cook, scraping up any browned bits, until the liquid is mostly reduced, 1 minute. Return the chicken to the skillet along with any juices from the plate; add the broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the liquid is reduced but still saucy, 10 to 12 minutes; season with salt.
• Fluff the rice, discarding the cinnamon stick and bay leaf, and divide among plates. Top with the chicken, figs and sauce and sprinkle with the parsley.