Tangy Chicken With Pistachios And Fruit Recipes

CHICKEN TAGINE WITH APRICOTS AND SPICED PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Make tagine:
• Cut out and reserve wings and backbone from chicken. Cut breast in half through bone, then cut off legs and cut to separate into thighs and drumsticks (for a total of 6 serving pieces, not including wings and backbone). Pat chicken pieces dry and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers, then brown chicken breasts, skin sides down, without turning, 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Brown thighs and legs, turning once, 8 to 10 minutes, transferring to plate. Brown wings and backbone in same manner.
• Cook shallots in butter with remaining tablespoon oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over medium heat, stirring frequently, until soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, and paprika and cook, stirring, 3 minutes.
• Add chicken with any juices from plate, saffron (if using), and 1/2 teaspoon salt to shallot mixture and turn chicken to coat. Add water and bring to a boil, covered, then cook at a bare simmer, covered, 30 minutes.
• Turn chicken and add orange preserves, cinnamon stick, thyme, cilantro sprigs, and apricots. Simmer, covered, 10 minutes. Uncover and simmer until chicken is very tender, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• Brown pine nuts while chicken cooks:
• Heat oil in a small heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers, then stir in pine nuts, turmeric, paprika, and cayenne (if using) and cook, stirring frequently, until nuts are lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes (watch carefully; they burn easily). Transfer to a small bowl.
• To serve:
• Transfer chicken to a platter and keep warm, covered. If sauce is not thick, boil, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 1 cup. Discard herb sprigs, cinnamon stick, wings, and backbone. Stir in chopped cilantro and spoon sauce over chicken. Sprinkle with nuts.
• What to drink:
• Chateau Reynella McLaren Vale Grenache '04

TANGY CHICKEN WITH PISTACHIOS AND FRUIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place the chicken thighs in a shallow baking dish. Drain the peaches and apricots, reserving the juice in a small bowl. Stir the vinegar into the juice, and adjust the amount to taste if necessary. Season with curry powder and garam masala and stir to blend. Arrange the peaches and apricots around the chicken thighs, and pour the flavored syrup over all. Sprinkle the pistachios on top.
• Bake uncovered for 1 hour in the preheated oven, until sauce has thickened and chicken juices run clear.

SWEET & SPICY ROAST CHICKEN WITH CARROTS, DATES & PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Make the marinade: In a medium bowl whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, orange zest, orange juice, olive oil, mustard, honey, red pepper flakes, garlic, thyme, and salt.
• Place the chicken, carrots, onions, and dates in a large sealable plastic bag. Add the marinade and seal shut. Massage to make sure everything is evenly coated with the marinade. Place the bag on a rimmed sheet pan to protect against leakage and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
• Transfer all ingredients from the bag, including the marinade, to a rimmed sheet pan (do not line the pan with foil). Turn the chicken skin side up. Roast until chicken is lightly browned and cooked through, 40 to 45 minutes. About halfway through cooking, stir the carrots so that they don't burn around the edges of the pan.
• Turn on broiler (leave pan on middle rack), and cook 1 to 3 minutes more, or until skin is golden brown and crispy. Watch carefully: the honey in the marinade can cause the skin to burn quickly.
• Transfer the chicken, carrots, onions and dates onto a platter, along with the sauce in the pan. Sprinkle the parsley, scallions and pistachio nuts over top and serve.

TANGY PINEAPPLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with the thyme, salt and pepper. In a large skillet, brown chicken in oil. Meanwhile, drain pineapple, reserving the juice. Cut pineapple rings in half and set aside. , Combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons juice until smooth; set aside. Combine the mustard, honey, garlic and remaining pineapple juice. Add to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170°. Remove chicken and keep warm. , Stir cornstarch mixture. Gradually add to pan; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Return chicken to pan. Top with pineapple; heat through. Serve with rice.

TANGY CHICKEN WITH PISTACHIOS AND FRUIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place the chicken thighs in a shallow baking dish. Drain the peaches and apricots, reserving the juice in a small bowl. Stir the vinegar into the juice, and adjust the amount to taste if necessary. Season with curry powder and garam masala and stir to blend. Arrange the peaches and apricots around the chicken thighs, and pour the flavored syrup over all. Sprinkle the pistachios on top.
• Bake uncovered for 1 hour in the preheated oven, until sauce has thickened and chicken juices run clear.