Tagged:  Poultry

This succulent chicken dish is made with our present bounty of peaches and zucchini. Once the chicken is stewed with these ingredients, it is sweet and perfect with rice and/or green salad. These sides balance the luscious flavors of the stew. Enjoy!

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 to 55 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:
¼ cup olive oil
One 2-1/2 to 3-pound chicken, skinned and cut into pieces (with bones)
-OR-
3 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half –AND-
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 medium-large brown or white onion, finely chopped (a contemporary addition)
1 cup white wine
1-1/2 to 2 cups cold water
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ to ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons honey
4 large, fresh peaches, peeled, pitted & cut into 1-1/2 inch slices
–OR-
One 16-ounce bag frozen, sliced peaches
1 large zucchini, cut into 1-inch rings (discard ends)
6 to 8 fresh mint sprigs (minced and scattered over chicken or used as garnish)

Directions:
1. In an 8-quart saucepot, heat the oil.

2. When oil is hot, add the chicken pieces and brown them on all sides on medium-high heat.

3. When chicken has browned, stir in the onions; cook onions 2 minutes or until they are translucent.

4. Add the wine and cook chicken, on medium-high heat (uncovered) for 7 to 8 minutes or until wine has thickened. Stir occasionally.

5. After wine has thickened and slightly reduced, add 1-1/2 cups water, the cumin, black pepper and 1 tablespoon honey.

6. Cook chicken 14 to 15 minutes on medium-high heat until liquid has thickened.

7. After 14 to 15 minutes, stir in remaining ½ cup water, peaches & .

8. Cook chicken on medium-high heat, covered, for 10 minutes; stir occasionally.

9. After 10 minutes, add the zucchini rings and cook 2 minutes or until zucchini is crunchy-tender.

10. Taste the stew. Adjust seasonings and honey, to taste.

11. Transfer chicken to serving platter, garnish with mint sprigs; serve immediately.
Text & Photographs ©2017 Nancy DeLucia Real

Enough with turkey now. Why not make a delicious chicken tagine which brings to mind all those luscious flavors of Morocco? Tagines are slow-cooked meat stews with dried fruit and/or almonds and lots of exotic spices. Here’s a great recipe. And yes – you can substitute the chicken with turkey breast and thigh pieces.

Accompany this chicken tagine with a side of Couscous with Zucchini, Yellow Squash & Red Chili Peppers (previously published on this website).

Prep time: 20 minutes (to prepare ingredients)
Cook time: 1-1/2 to 2 hours
Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:
1/3 cup olive oil
2-1/2 to 3 pounds chicken breasts (about 3 half-breasts), skinned and cut in half (to make 6 pieces)
1 large yellow or white onion, finely chopped
1/4 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1/4 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2-inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and finely minced
1 cup pureed fresh tomatoes
4 to 5 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
1 teaspoon freshly ground ginger root
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup dried apricots, halved
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt

1. In an 8 to 10-quart stockpot or Dutch oven, heat the oil.

2. Add the chicken breast pieces. Fry the chicken pieces on medium-high heat until they are browned all over, about 6 to 8 minutes.

3. After the chicken pieces are browned, stir in the onion, bell peppers and ginger root.

4. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 2 minutes.

5. After 2 minutes, stir in the tomatoes and 1-1/2 cups of the broth.

6. Bring the chicken and liquid to a high simmer and cook on medium-high heat for 15 minutes.

7. After 15 minutes, stir in cinnamon, cumin, paprika, chili pepper flakes, ginger, the sugar with 1 cup of the broth.

8. Cook the chicken on medium-high heat for an additional hour or so, stirring occasionally. As the tagine becomes dense, stir in 1/2 to 1 cup broth every 10 to 15 minutes.

9. After one hour, taste the tagine. If the flavors are too concentrated, add 1 cup water and continue cooking, stirring occasionally.

10. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir in the apricots and cranberries.

11. After 5 minutes, taste the tagine. If needed, add salt.

12. Serve Chicken Tagine with Apricots and Cranberries and a side of Couscous with Zucchini, Yellow Squash & Red Chili Peppers.

Note: To substitute the chicken with turkey, cook the turkey tagine. for at least one more hour. Add one additional quart of broth in 1-cup increments, every 10 to 15 minutes.

Text and Photograph ©2013 Nancy DeLucia Real

Turkey cutlets or breast can sometimes be tough and tasteless. Transform this dry meat into a gourmet selection by marinating it in pesto and then grilling it. The pesto marinade coats the meat on the outside while making it flavorful throughout. And if you don’t feel like a cookout, don’t fret – Pesto Grilled Turkey is equally delicious when broiled or grilled in the oven.

Active Prep time: 20 minutes
Inactive prep time: 30 minutes (for marinating)
Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:
1 to 1½ pounds Trader Joe’s® turkey cutlets or breast (boneless)
¾ cup prepared pesto sauce (see Cilantro Pesto, published on this website on April 28, 2011)*

1. In a large glass or porcelain bowl, evenly coat the turkey cutlets with pesto sauce.

2. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Outdoor Cooking Method:

3. After 30 minutes of marinating, grill the turkey cutlets on an outdoor grill, 5 to 7 minutes per side (check doneness by slicing the cutlet in half – the cut side should be white, as opposed to pink).

Indoor Cooking Method:

1. After 30 minutes of marinating, arrange the cutlets on a foil-lined baking sheet.

2. Place the baking sheet 6 inches away from oven’s top broiler or grilling element.

3. Grill turkey cutlets for 7 to 9 minutes per side (check doneness as in above directions).

Serve cutlets with a side of Jalapeño Slaw (published on this blog on August 24, 2011).

Wine pairing suggestion: Chilled Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio or your favorite white wine.

*Note: Store-bought, traditional basil pesto sauce can also be used in this recipe.

Text & Photograph © 2011 Nancy DeLucia Real

In 13th century France, Dijon became an important center for the production of mustard. In 1336, at a feast held by the Duke of Burgundy, historical records state that guests consumed 70 gallons of mustard or “moutarde”. Later, in 1777, Grey Poupon®, the famous mustard manufacturing company, was established in Dijon.

Also part of French cuisine, “paillard” is a term used for thinly pounded, rapidly cooked meat. This easy chicken paillard recipe is delicately laced with “fines herbes”, a Mediterranean herb blend consisting of chives, chervil, parsley and tarragon. The accompanying sauce, made with Dijon mustard, adds a perfect zest to this dish. Your guests will rave and say, “It’s scrumptious” or “C’est si delicieux”.

Active Prep time: 25 minutes for chicken; and 10 minutes for mustard sauce
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves: 4

For the Chicken Paillard:
4 boneless chicken breasts, pounded into 1/4-inch thick cutlets
2 large eggs
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup plain breadcrumbs
1-1/2 teaspoons Fines Herbes*
1 cup vegetable oil

1. Preheat oven to 325˚F.

2. Wash the chicken cutlets and pat them dry with paper towels; set cutlets aside on a plate.

3. In a wide, 1-quart bowl, beat the eggs with the salt and pepper. Place the cutlets in the bowl, coating them with the beaten egg mixture; set aside.

4. In the meantime, in another wide, 1-quart bowl, stir to combine the breadcrumbs and fines herbes.

5. Gently coat the cutlets with the breadcrumb mixture and set them aside on a clean plate.

6. In a 12-inch skillet, heat the oil. Fry the cutlets on medium heat until underside is golden brown, about 4 minutes.

7. Turn each cutlet once and repeat frying instructions.

8. Transfer the cutlets to a baking dish; cover and keep warm in preheated oven while making the mustard sauce.

For the Mustard Sauce:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 shallot, minced
1 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon Grey Poupon® Dijon mustard
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 egg yolk, beaten in a small bowl
Juice of half a lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1. In a 4-quart saucepot, melt the butter.

2. Stir in the minced shallot and sauté until it is translucent, about 30 seconds.

3. Add the wine and the mustard. Simmer on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, for 2 minutes.

4. Stir in the cream and cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until sauce begins to thicken.

5. Transfer half of the sauce into a bowl with beaten egg yolk.

6. Return the egg yolk and cream mixture to the saucepot; cook and stir for an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened.

7. Add lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir and taste. Adjust seasonings, if necessary.

8. For a thicker sauce, mix together 1/4 cup cold water with 2 teaspoons cornstarch until smooth. Pour a little cornstarch mixture into boiling sauce, stirring constantly. The sauce will thicken immediately. Stop adding the cornstarch mixture when sauce reaches desired consistency. Adjust seasonings, to taste.

Serve warm, as an accompaniment to Chicken Paillard with A Side of Carrots & Green Beans, previously published on this blog on February 15, 2011.

Wine pairing suggestion: Chilled White Bordeaux.

*Fines Herbes is a dry herb mixture found in the spice section of most supermarkets or in a gourmet cook’s store.

Text and Photograph ©2011 Nancy DeLucia Real.