Roasted Chicken Thighs With Zucchini And Couscous Recipes

CURRIED COUSCOUS WITH CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Cook onion in 2 tablespoons butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes, then reserve in skillet.
• Meanwhile, pat chicken slices dry and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté chicken in 2 batches, turning occasionally, until just cooked through and golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per batch, transferring chicken to a plate with tongs.
• Reduce heat to moderate and add 1 tablespoon butter, then cook zucchini with 1/8 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper, stirring frequently, until just tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer to plate with chicken and loosely cover with foil.
• Add garlic along with half of reserved onion to larger skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon curry powder and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in 1 cup broth and bring to a boil, then boil until reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cream and boil sauce, stirring occasionally, until just thick enough to coat back of a spoon, about 2 minutes. Set sauce aside in skillet.
• Reheat remaining onion in 10-inch skillet over moderate heat, then add remaining teaspoon curry powder and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon butter and remaining 1 1/4 cups broth, then bring to a boil. Stir in couscous and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, then cover tightly and let stand off heat 5 minutes. Cut remaining 2 tablespoons butter into small pieces and stir into couscous. Let stand, covered, 1 minute.
• While couscous is standing, add chicken and zucchini to sauce along with any juices accumulated on plate and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon cilantro.
• Fluff couscous with a fork to break up any lumps, then stir in remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with lime wedges.

ROASTED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH GARLIC PURéE AND SHAVED ZUCCHINI SALAD

Steps:

• For the chicken: Preheat a convection oven to 450 degrees F or a conventional oven to 475 degrees F.
• Preheat a large cast-iron pan over high heat.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle the chicken on a sheet pan with the salt and pepper, then toss with the cooking oil in a large bowl. Add to the hot cast-iron pan skin-side down and allow to sear until the chicken juices start to rise, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the thyme to the pan and start to baste the chicken with any rendered chicken fat. Let this sit on the stovetop until a deep golden brown has been reached, about 12 minutes, before transferring to the oven, still skin-side down. Roast for 25 minutes and remove to rest.
• For the garlic purée: Add the garlic to a small pot and cover with water. Allow to come to a boil, then drain. Put the garlic, cream and salt to taste in a medium pot and simmer on medium heat for 25 minutes. Purée with the Parmesan and pine nuts and reserve.
• For the salad: Add the parsley, tarragon, chives, zucchini and Parmesan to a bowl. Season with salt, then toss with the lemon juice.
• Spread the garlic purée on the bottom of a large platter. Top with the chicken, crispy skin-side up, and top with the zucchini salad.