Chicken Marsala with Mushroom Ragout and Buttered Noodles

Chicken Marsala with Mushroom Ragoût and Buttered Noodles

Yield: 2 servings

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (9 ounces each)

½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided, plus more to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

½ cup plus 1 teaspoon unbleached all-purpose flour, divided

2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, divided

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

8 ounces fresh button or cremini mushrooms, sliced ¼ inch thick

2 medium shallots, peeled and diced small (6 tablespoons)

½ cup sweet Marsala wine

1½ cups chicken stock

1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more to taste

1. Pat the chicken dry and sandwich each chicken breast between two pieces of plastic wrap.

2. Using a mallet, rolling pin, or the back of a saucepan, pound each chicken breast until it is ¼ inch thick.

3. Season each side of each chicken breast with ⅛ teaspoon salt (for a total of ½ teaspoon) and a few good grinds of pepper.

4. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of the flour with 1 teaspoon of the butter and mix well.

5. Add the remaining flour to a shallow bowl; dredge the seasoned chicken breasts in the flour, shaking each piece to remove any excess.

6. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil plus 1 tablespoon butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until the butter turns a light golden brown.

7. Add the chicken breasts and cook for approximately 3 minutes per side, until golden brown.

8. Transfer the chicken from the pan to a large plate.

9. Begin preparing the Buttered Egg Noodles (recipe below), so grab a small pot and start boiling some water.

10. With the pan still on the burner at medium-high heat, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the same sauté pan.

11. Add the mushrooms and shallots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are golden-brown around the edges, 5 to 7 minutes.

12. Add the Marsala wine and chicken stock to the sauté pan. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.

13. Stir in the kneaded butter/flour mixture. Cook on high heat for 4 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly.

14. Reduce the heat to medium, then return the breasts to the pan. Continue to cook for 2 minutes, flipping after 1 minute, or until they are warmed through and the sauce has thickened.

15. Add the lemon juice and season to taste with salt, pepper, and additional lemon juice.

16. Transfer the chicken breasts to a cutting board and cut into bite-size pieces.

17. Serve the sliced chicken over the buttered noodles, swirl the chopped parsley and lemon juice into the sauce, then spoon over the chicken. Enjoy.

Buttered Egg Noodles:

2 tablespoons kosher salt

5 ounces egg noodles

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1. Bring a small pot of water to a rolling boil, then add the salt.

2. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender.

3. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the cooking water, and then drain, but do not rinse the noodles. Return the drained noodles to the same pot.

4. Add the butter and the reserved cooking water. Mix together and cover to keep warm.

Summer Barbecue Tray Bake

Watch me make this on my YouTube Channel!

Yield: 4 servings

1¾ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs

1/3 + ¼ cup barbecue sauce

2 & 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

3 large ears of corn, kernels removed (cobs discarded), approximately 3½ to 4 cups

2 medium zucchini (3/4 pound), diced medium, approximately 2½ to 3 cups

1 pint (3/4 pound) grape tomatoes

20 (3-inch sprigs) fresh thyme

10 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

4-ounces Feta cheese, crumbled, approximately 1 cup

4 tablespoons butter, diced into 16 cubes

1 lemon, very thinly sliced, seeds removed

Set an oven rack to the upper middle position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a sheet tray with aluminum foil and then line the sheet tray with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, add the chicken thighs, 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Mix to combine. Add 1/3 cup barbecue sauce and stir to combine. Set aside.

In a large bowl, add the corn kernels, zucchini, tomatoes, thyme, garlic, 1&1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper and olive oil. Stir to combine.

Spread vegetables out evenly on the parchment/aluminum lined sheet tray.

Sprinkle feta over the vegetables. Evenly disperse the butter atop the vegetables followed by the lemon slices.

Place the chicken thighs in the four corners of the sheet tray, with the thickest part of the thighs closest to the edge/corner of the sheet tray. If you have more than 4 thighs, place the thickest portion of any additional thighs closest to the edge of the sheet tray.

Bake for 30 minutes, flipping the chicken thighs after 15 minutes. Remove sheet tray from the oven and spoon or brush on the remaining ¼ cup barbecue sauce on the chicken thighs (side up only). Transfer back to the oven, set oven to broil and broil for 4 to 5 minutes, until tomatoes and lemons blister and the chicken starts to char.

Remove the sheet tray from the oven and serve a spoonful of the lemony feta vegetables into shallow bowls. Top each with a chicken thigh. Serve some extra barbecue sauce on the side to dollop on the chicken.

Note: to make vegetarian, simply sub chicken thighs for extra firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch slices and follow the recipe as is

Seared Chicken Thighs with Coconut, Tamarind and Spiced Vegetables

Watch me make this on my YouTube Channel!

Yield: 4 servings

1¾ teaspoons kosher salt, divided

1 teaspoon neutral oil, such as grapeseed oil

2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, excess fat trimmed and pat dry

2 tablespoons minced garlic, grated on a Microplane

2 tablespoons minced ginger, grated on a Microplane

2 teaspoons cumin seed

1 teaspoon coriander seed

1 teaspoon brown mustard seed

¼ teaspoon ground turmeric

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 medium yellow onions, peeled, halved and thinly sliced lengthwise

3 large carrots, peeled and medium diced

3 medium delicata squash (2 pounds), ends trimmed, halved lengthwise, seeded and sliced into 1/3-inch half moons

1 (5.4-ounce) can coconut cream

3 tablespoons tamarind concentrate

1 teaspoon dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

½ cup fresh cilantro leaves

Season the chicken all over with 1 teaspoon of salt.

Adjust an oven rack to the middle-lower position and preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Open a few windows and/or turn on the oven hood/fan; it might get a little smoky!

Heat a heavy 5.5 quart Dutch oven over medium-high until hot, then add the oil. It will most likely start to smoke. Swirl the pan to distribute the oil and place the chicken thighs skin side down in the pan. Cook until the skin turns golden brown, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken and transfer to a plate, skin side up.

Reduce heat to medium. Add the garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, mustard seed, turmeric, cayenne and black pepper. Stir continuously until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the onion, carrots, squash and ½ teaspoon salt. Stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to soften, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.

Remove from heat and place the chicken atop the vegetables, skin side up.

Transfer to the oven and cook, uncovered, until the thighs reach an internal temperature of at least 175 degrees, approximately 30 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, add the coconut cream, tamarind, brown sugar, lime juice and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt to a small bowl. Stir to combine until the brown sugar and salt have dissolved. Set aside.

After 30 minutes, remove the Dutch oven from the oven. Transfer the chicken to a plate, skin side up. Stir the coconut tamarind sauce into the vegetables.

To serve, add a scoop of vegetables to a shallow bowl. Top with cilantro leaves, followed by a chicken thigh (skin side up).

Chicken Teriyaki Pilaf with Butternut Squash and Mushrooms

Watch me make this on my YouTube!

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Teriyaki Chicken:

1/3 cup soy sauce

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

3 tablespoons mirin

1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger, grated on a Microplane

¼ teaspoon freshly grated garlic, grated on a Microplane

1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs

Add all ingredients, except chicken, to a medium saucepan (do not put over heat) and stir until sugar has dissolved. Add chicken and stir to coat. Let sit at room temperature while you prep the pilaf.

Pilaf:

2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as grapeseed oil

2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger, grated on a Microplane

1½ tablespoons minced garlic

1 large shallot, peeled and thinly sliced

1 pound cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced

1 cup Jasmine rice, rinsed and drained well

1¼ cup chicken stock

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

3 tablespoons white miso

2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced medium

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 scallions, thinly sliced on a bias, white and green parts

2 teaspoons sesame seeds

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Add the oils, ginger, garlic and shallot to a 5.5 quart dutch oven and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until shallots are soft and translucent, approximately 5 minutes.

Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have given up their liquid and are soft, approximately 5 minutes.

Add rice, stir to combine and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add stock and rice wine vinegar. Stir to combine. Add miso and stir until incorporated fully. Add squash and pepper and stir to combine. Level rice mixture with a spatula. Add the chicken thighs (but not the sauce – keep the sauce in the saucepan!) in a single layer on top of the mixture. Cook, uncovered, until mixture is simmering all the way through (center and sides – everywhere!). Once a simmer is achieved, cover and transfer to oven. Bake for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven (keep covered) and let rest, covered, for 20 minutes.

While the pilaf is resting, put the teriyaki sauce over low heat and reduce, stirring occasionally, until 1/3 cup sauce remains. Remove from heat. (You may want/need to reheat sauce if you wait a long time before serving pilaf).

Pour teriyaki sauce over the chicken. Top with scallions and sesame seeds and serve!

Herb Encrusted Chicken Paillard with Spicy Lemon Quinoa Salad

 

Watch me make this on my YouTube channel!

Yield: 4 servings

 

Chicken:

4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 2 pounds)

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary, oregano or thyme (or a combination of all three)

2 teaspoons lemon zest (zest of 2 lemons), grated on a Microplane

3 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced (1 tablespoon)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

 

Line a sheet tray with aluminum foil. Adjust an oven rack to the upper position.

Pat the chicken breasts dry. Using a mallet, rolling pin, or the back of a saucepan, pound each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap until ⅓ inch thick.

Remove the chicken from the plastic wrap, then drizzle lightly with the olive oil, just enough to coat both sides, rubbing to coat evenly. Season equally with herbs, lemon zest, garlic, salt and pepper.

Set your oven to broil. Place chicken on sheet tray and broil for approximately 8 minutes, flipping the breasts halfway through, until the internal temperature is 150 degrees Fahrenheit. (Keep your eyes on that chicken under the broiler – things can happen fast!)

Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing / serving over the quinoa salad.

 

Spicy Lemon Quinoa Salad:

Citronette:

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more to taste

1 medium shallot, peeled and diced finely (3 tablespoons)

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

 

In a small container with a tight fitting lid, combine the citronette ingredients, close the lid tightly, and shake well to combine. Or, whisk to combine the ingredients in a small bowl.

 

Salad:

1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained

½ teaspoon crushed red chile pepper (chile flakes), or to taste

3/4 cup roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley

¼ cup toasted pine nuts

1 (15-ounce) can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed and drained

1/4 cup roughly chopped kalamata or green olives, pits removed

 

Cook quinoa according to package instructions.

Transfer the quinoa to a medium sized bowl. Add the chile flakes, parsley, pine nuts, garbanzo beans and olives. Drizzle the citronette over the salad. Fold to mix everything together. Season to taste with additional salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

Tray Baked Chicken Thighs with Roasted Grapes and Arugula

 

Yields: 4 servings

 

Zest of 1 lemon (grated on a Microplane)

10 (3-inch) sprigs fresh thyme

1¾ boneless skinless chicken thighs (approximately 6 chicken thighs)

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

¾ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound seedless red grapes

4 packed cups arugula (5 ounces)

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

 

Adjust an oven rack 5 inches from the broiler and set the oven to broil.

Add the lemon zest, thyme, chicken thighs, olive oil, salt and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Mix to combine.

Place chicken thighs on an aluminum foil lined sheet tray.

Add grapes to the same large mixing bowl and mix so that you coat the grapes with the excess olive oil and seasoning left in the bowl.

Distribute grapes on the sheet tray, but do not cover the chicken. (You may need to do some rearranging on the sheet tray so nothing is overlapping.)

Place sheet tray in oven and set a timer for 7 minutes. After 7 minutes, flip the chicken. Continue cooking for another 7 to 10 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees with a digital thermometer.

Remove sheet tray from the oven and transfer chicken and grapes to a plate (don’t pour out the jus!).

Add arugula to a large mixing bowl. Pour ¼ cup of the warm chicken/grape jus from the sheet tray over the arugula. Add the balsamic vinegar and gently fold to combine. Season with salt.

Serve by dividing the arugula onto plates. Top each salad with chicken and some roasted grapes. Got any leftover jus? Drizzle it over each plate for extra flavor.

 

Dragon Fruit Salad with Lemony Chicken & Butternut Purée

Dragon Fruit Salad with Lemony Chicken & Butternut Purée

Enjoy this recipe recently featured in Clean Eating Magazine. Photo by Ronald Tsang.

 

Yield: 4 servings

Carrot Ginger Puree:

4 cups water

1 pound peeled and medium diced (1/2-inch) butternut squash (3 1/3 cups)

1 pound peeled and thinly sliced (1/4-inch discs) carrots (2 1/3 cups)

2 teaspoons peeled and grated fresh ginger, (grated on a Microplane)

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 20 small cubes (each tablespoon quartered)

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

¾ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

In a large pot (which fits a steamer basket), add 4 cups water. Insert steamer basket and add squash and carrots to the basket. Cover with a lid and turn heat to high. Once steaming, reduce heat to medium and steam for 20 minutes. Carefully transfer steamed veggies to a blender and add ginger, butter, orange juice, lemon juice, salt and pepper and blend on medium low until smooth. Keep covered until service.

 

Roasted Chicken:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2½ teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme

2 teaspoons grated and finely chopped lemon zest, grated on a Microplane

 

Adjust an oven rack to the top position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pat the chicken thighs dry and coat with olive oil on both sides. Season the thighs evenly (both sides) with salt and pepper followed by the thyme and lemon zest.

Line a sheet pan with foil and evenly space the chicken thighs on the sheet pan. Place, uncovered, in the oven.

Cook until the thighs reach an internal temperature between 165 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the chicken thighs to a cutting board to rest for 10 minutes, loosely covered with foil, before slicing chicken into ½-inch strips.

 

Dragon Fruit Salad:

1 medium shallot, peeled and diced small (3 tablespoons)

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 dragon fruit (1 pound), peeled and diced into ¼-inch pieces (2 cups)

1 medium apple (6-ounces) (preferably Braeburn, Fuji, or Honeycrisp), unpeeled, cored, quartered and thinly sliced (1/16-inch slices)

¼ pound frisée, cut into 2-inch pieces (2¼ packed cups)

10 medium fresh mint leaves, finely chopped (1 tablespoon)

1/3 cup pomegranate seeds

1/3 cup roughly chopped toasted almonds

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

Place all ingredients in a medium bowl and gently fold to combine.

To serve, scoop ¾ cup of the puree into large shallow bowls. Top puree with 1 cup of the salad and arrange sliced chicken on top.

Tamarind Glazed Chicken Wings

These sweet and spicy chicken wings are so delicious (just look at those beauties!) that you should probably double or triple the batch… Actually, let’s say definitely triple the recipe…

 

Tamarind Glazed Chicken Wings

Yield: 1 to 2 servings

 

Tamarind Glaze

1 teaspoon tamarind paste

½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1 teaspoon sriracha sauce

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon honey

1 large garlic clove, peeled and minced

 

Mix all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until sauce reduces to about 3 tablespoons.

 

Chicken Wings

1 pound organic chicken wings, patted dry

½ teaspoon kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper, for seasoning

½ tablespoon baking powder

½ teaspoon raw white sesame seeds

 

Place an oven rack on the middle position and preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Line a sheet tray with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on the sheet tray.

Place chicken wings in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add the baking powder and toss to combine. (The baking powder will help keep the chicken skin dry and crispy!)

Place chicken wings, skin side up, on the wire rack and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove from oven, flip the wings, brush on half of the glaze, flip the wings back over, brush on the remaining glaze, then sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds.

Return to oven and cook another 5 to 7 minutes, until a beautiful deep brown color is achieved and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

 

 

 

Recipe Review: Week of July 1

Just a reminder of the great recipes posted on my blog last week.

Time to get shopping!

 

Grilled chicken thighs with homemade barbecue sauce (top lef)

Homemade barbecue sauce (left middle)

The bacon makes everything better burger (bottom left)

Tomatillo tomato salsa (top right)

German-style potato salad (bottom right)

Grilled Chicken Thighs with Homemade Barbecue Sauce

What’s perfect with homemade barbecue sauce? How about some grilled chicken? Yup, it’s definitely summer now!

 

Grilled Chicken Thighs with Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Yield: 3 to 5 servings

 

2 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs

1 teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

One batch of homemade barbecue sauce*

 

Pat the chicken thighs dry and season with salt and pepper. Let sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Place half of the barbecue sauce in a small bowl. Refrigerate the other half for enjoying later!

Heat the grill to a medium-high flame. Once hot, clean the grill, then, using tongs, lightly dip a cloth in olive oil and wipe to coat the grill rack.

Using tongs, add the chicken thighs to the grill. Do not reposition the chicken once on the grill. Set a timer and cook the chicken for 2 minutes. Flip the thighs and continue cooking for another 2 minutes.

Flip again and brush with homemade barbecue sauce. Then set your timer for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, flip again and brush with sauce. Set your timer and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Depending on the thickness of your chicken thighs and the heat of your grill (including hot and cold spots on your grill), you will continue the process of flipping, brushing and cooking for 2 minutes anywhere between 16 and 22 minutes.

How do you know when the thighs are done? Place a digital thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. You are looking for an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a thermometer, go grab one online or at your local kitchen store. (This thermometer is my favorite – by ThermoWorks.) If you find yourself without a digital thermometer, you can also test doneness by cutting into the thighs; the juices should run clear.

Remove the chicken and place on a cutting board to rest for 10 minutes.

 

*If there is any leftover barbecue sauce in the small bowl that you have been brushing the chicken, be sure to discard to avoid any cross contamination. You can use your reserve batch if you want some extra for serving.