Spiced Capon With Pomegranate Glaze Recipes

GOLDEN OVEN-ROASTED CAPON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Remove the neck and giblets from the cavity and rinse the chicken under cold water, inside and out. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Season the body and cavity of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together the butter, lemon juice and chopped herbs. Rub the herbed butter all over the chicken. Put the lemon halves, onion, garlic and whole herbs inside the bird. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine to help hold its shape.
• Place the chicken, breast side down, on a V-rack in a roasting pan. Cooking the chicken on a rack helps make its skin crisp and keeps it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Pour water in the roasting pan to prevent the fat drippings from burning and smoking.
• Roast the chicken for about 20 minutes, then carefully turn the bird over breast side up. It is best to take the pan out of the oven, close the oven door to maintain the temperature, and rotate the chicken on the counter. Baste the chicken all over with the pan drippings. Turn the heat down to 375 degrees F and return the pan to the oven. Continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees to 170 degrees F, count on this taking about 2 hours. Remove the chicken to a platter and let stand for 15 minutes so the juices settle back into the meat before carving.
• Meanwhile, pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a gravy separator or measuring cup to let the fat rise to the top. Skim and discard the fat then return the pan juices back in the roasting pan. Place the roasting pan on top of the stove over medium heat. Add the sherry and deglaze, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and pepper, and serve with chicken.

CAPRESE CHICKEN WITH POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Bring pomegranate juice to a simmer in a small pot over low heat, then let cook until very syrupy, thick and reduced to about 1/2 cup, 30 to 40 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Sprinkle chicken breasts liberally with kosher salt and pepper on both sides. Add oil to a medium ovenproof skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Place the chicken in the skillet skin-side down and cook until the skin is nice and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes. Transfer skillet to the oven and roast until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, 10 to 12 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes.
• Slice the cooked chicken breast 1/4-inch-thick. Layer tomatoes, chicken and mozzarella in an elegant row on a long platter. Drizzle with pomegranate reduction, sprinkle with crushed pistachios, scatter basil leaves around and sprinkle with some smoked sea salt.

POMEGRANATE GLAZED PORK

Steps:

• Remove the pork roast from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the rack on the lower middle section of the oven.
• Place the carrot halves on the bottom of a small roasting pan and set aside.
• Trim off any thick areas of fat from the roast. Make shallow slits about 1 inch apart in a crosshatch on the meat of the roast. Mix together the cinnamon, cloves and 1 tablespoon salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the roast and rub to coat. Place the roast on the carrots and add 1/2 cup water to the pan. Roast for 1 hour, adding another 1/2 cup water if the pan gets dry.
• Meanwhile, combine the pomegranate juice and thyme in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and reduce by half, about 15 minutes. Stir in the maple syrup and mustard and continue to reduce until slightly thickened, another 3 to 4 minutes. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remove and discard the thyme.
• Baste the meat with the pomegranate mixture and roast until the internal temperature reaches 120 degrees F, another 30 minutes. Remove the roast from the oven and turn the oven up to 450 degrees F.
• Baste the roast again with the pomegranate mixture. Return the roast to the hot oven for an additional 20 minutes, basting with the pomegranate sauce every 5 to 10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F and the roast is evenly glazed. Remove the roast to a platter to rest for 10 minutes. Add any juices from the pan to the sauce and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Stir to combine. Slice the roast and serve with the sauce on the side.