Chicken Marbella
Here's an appealing Spanish-inspired chicken dish taken from A Family Feast. The blend of red wine vinegar with green olives and prunes produces a sweet/sour flavour. The brown sugar topping adds a caramelized note to the taste and white wine keeps the chicken moist. I add more oregano than originally called for, but either way this dish will impress your family or guests. It's easy to set up ahead of time - marinate the chicken a day ahead and all you have to do is pop it in the oven an hour before you serve. Delicious with rice of any sort, couscous, quinoa, farro or other grain.
Prep Time: 12-15 hours. Cook Time: 1 hour. Serves 4-6 people
More chicken options: French Chicken Tarragon, Mediterranean Chicken Salad, Curried Chicken Salad with Raisins, Greek Lemon Oregano Chicken, Chicken Marsala, Fideos (Pasta) with Chicken and Greens, Roast Chicken with Bread and Greens, Buttermilk Chicken, Crispy Chicken over Turmeric Lemon Chicken, Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma
Ingredients
2 - 3 pounds of chicken pieces
1 -2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons dry oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup pitted prunes, left whole
1/2 cup green olives, pitted and left whole (stuffed or not doesn’t matter)
1/4 cup capers with a little liquid
4 bay leaves
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white wine
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
Method
Here's an appealing Spanish-inspired chicken dish taken from A Family Feast. The blend of red wine vinegar with green olives and prunes produces a sweet/sour flavour. The brown sugar topping adds a caramelized note to the taste and white wine keeps the chicken moist. I add more oregano than originally called for, but either way this dish will impress your family or guests. It's easy to set up ahead of time - marinate the chicken a day ahead and all you have to do is pop it in the oven an hour before you serve. Delicious with rice of any sort, couscous, quinoa, farro or other grain.
Prep Time: 12-15 hours. Cook Time: 1 hour. Serves 4-6 people
More chicken options: French Chicken Tarragon, Mediterranean Chicken Salad, Curried Chicken Salad with Raisins, Greek Lemon Oregano Chicken, Chicken Marsala, Fideos (Pasta) with Chicken and Greens, Roast Chicken with Bread and Greens, Buttermilk Chicken, Crispy Chicken over Turmeric Lemon Chicken, Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma
Ingredients
2 - 3 pounds of chicken pieces
1 -2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons dry oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup pitted prunes, left whole
1/2 cup green olives, pitted and left whole (stuffed or not doesn’t matter)
1/4 cup capers with a little liquid
4 bay leaves
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white wine
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
Method
- Place the chicken pieces in a bowl or other container.
- In a small bowl mix the garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar, olive oil, prunes, olives, capers, and bay leaves together. Pour over the chicken. Cover the container and marinate overnight.
- The next day, 90 minutes before you want to serve, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and remove the chicken from the fridge to bring to room temperature.
- Place the chicken pieces in a shallow baking pan and pour the marinade over the chicken. Discard the bay leaves. Let the solids fall around the chicken pieces.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar over the chicken pieces. Pour the white wine around the outside of the chicken.
- Bake uncovered for 50 minutes, basting every 15-20 minutes. Pierce a chicken piece and if juices run clear, pull the pan out of the oven. If the meat is a little pink, bake for ten more minutes.
- Optional: Put the chicken under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp the skin up.
- Remove the chicken to a platter and spoon the prunes, olives and capers over each piece. Spoon the remaining liquid on top of the chicken before serving or serve on the side for each individual to add as desired. Garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro..