Peasant Style Greek Chicken Recipes

PEASANT-STYLE GREEK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in a shallow baking dish.
• Arrange potatoes and garlic around chicken.
• Mix together lemon juice and olive oil, salt and pepper, and pour evenly over chicken and potatoes.
• Add just enough water until potatoes are almost about covered.
• Cover chicken and pototoes with 2 Tbsps. of oregano.
• Cover with foil and bake at 350ºF. for 20 minutes.
• Uncover, turn chicken; stir potatoes; and sprinkle on remaining oregano.
• If potatoes aren't at least half-covered with liquid, add more water.
• Return to oven for about 25-30 minutes.
• Chicken is done when both sides are lightly browned and potatoes are soft.
• Good served with crisp bread or pita.

GREEK LEMON CHICKEN AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Lightly oil a large roasting pan.
• Place chicken pieces in large bowl. Season with salt, oregano, pepper, rosemary, and cayenne pepper. Add fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic. Place potatoes in bowl with the chicken; stir together until chicken and potatoes are evenly coated with marinade.
• Transfer chicken pieces, skin side up, to prepared roasting pan, reserving marinade. Distribute potato pieces among chicken thighs. Drizzle with 2/3 cup chicken broth. Spoon remainder of marinade over chicken and potatoes.
• Place in preheated oven. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Toss chicken and potatoes, keeping chicken skin side up; continue baking until chicken is browned and cooked through, about 25 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Transfer chicken to serving platter and keep warm.
• Set oven to broil or highest heat setting. Toss potatoes once again in pan juices. Place pan under broiler and broil until potatoes are caramelized, about 3 minutes. Transfer potatoes to serving platter with chicken.
• Place roasting pan on stove over medium heat. Add a splash of broth and stir up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Strain; spoon juices over chicken and potatoes. Top with chopped oregano.

PEASANT-STYLE POT ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 160 degrees centigrade.
• You'll need a large lidded pot (big enough to hold a whole chicken).
• Start by putting a little olive oil in the bottom of the pot. Then line the bottom with the bread slices. Sprinkle the bacon, garlic, chopped celery & carrots and whatever herbs you choose over the bread. This is forming a base for the chicken to sit on, and will later become the gravy.
• Rub salt & pepper over the chicken, then place it on top of the bread & vegetables.
• Place the carrots, onions & potatoes around the sides.
• Pour the wine and stock over the top.
• Cover & place in oven for approximately 2 hours. Check for doneness of both chicken & veg.
• Remove the chicken and large vegetable chunks to an oven-proof dish, turn off the oven and place the dish back inside to keep warm while you finish off the gravy.
• Leaving the gravy/veg mixture in the original pot, use a hand-held food processor to completely liquidise it, then bring it to a boil and simmer to reduce and thicken it. You can add a touch of cream at the very end if you'd like.
• Carve the chicken (which will be practically falling off the bone anyway) & serve with the vegetables and gravy, along with some crusty bread.