Bitter Orange Chicken Recipes

SOUR ORANGE SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Zest one of the sour oranges and transfer the zest to a bowl. Cut the oranges into quarters and juice them over a glass measuring cup. Juice the lemon and lime over the measuring cup until you have about 3/4 cup of citrus juice. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the garlic, kosher salt, pepper, cumin, oregano and red pepper flakes. Add the sour orange juice mixture and whisk to combine. Stir in the chopped cilantro and olive oil.
• Flip the chicken onto the breast side so that the backbone is exposed. Use a pair of poultry sheers to cut out the back bone, going up either side of the spine of the chicken (not down the spine itself.) Save the back bone for stock.
• Flip the chicken over so that the breast side is facing up. Use the flat palm of your hand to press firmly on the chicken's breast until it breaks and you're able to flatten out the bird.
• Pour about half of the marinade into a glass baking dish. Place the chicken into the dish and make sure the inside of the chicken is in contact with the marinade. Arrange the chicken with breast side up and pour the remaining marinade over the bird. Rub the bird with the marinade to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 12 hours or overnight, flipping the chicken once or twice during the marinating time.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator about an hour before you're cooking it, so that it comes to room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 450°. Place a 10" cast iron skillet in the oven to heat.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. When the oven and pan are hot, use a pair of pot holders to CAREFULLY lift the pan and move it to the stove top. Place the chicken, breast side down into the pan and return to the oven. Roast for 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes, flip the chicken. Add the onions and potatoes and roll them around in the rendered chicken fat to coat. Arrange the onions and potatoes in a single layer around the chicken and continue cooking for 20 minutes or until chicken is done.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board to rest and continue to cook the potatoes and onions for an additional 10 minutes. Remove the skillet from the oven. Transfer the potatoes to a serving platter.
• Place the skillet over a medium high heat. Add the vinegar and scrape up the fond from the bottom of the pan. Add the chicken broth and continue to stir and scrape the pan to loosen any bits from the bottom. Stir in the chopped cilantro and transfer the jus to a bowl for serving.
• Carve the chicken and transfer to the serving platter with potatoes. Sprinkle with additional cilantro for garnish and serve with jus.

CUBAN MOJO CHICKEN RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, combine the orange zest, lime zest , orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, garlic cloves, jalapeno (if using), oregano, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
• Place the chicken into the marinade , cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. You can also do this in a large zip-top bag, but be sure to place the bag into a large bowl to safeguard against drips.
• Preheat the oven to 400 F. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on a large roasting pan. If you like, tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body to help prevent them from darkening too much.
• Roast in the oven for approximately 1 1/2 hours, or until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 F on a meat thermometer. If the breast starts to get too dark while roasting, cover loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil.
• Remove from the oven, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for about 10 minutes before carving.
• Garnish with orange and lime slices (if using) and serve with rice and black beans.

ROASTED ORANGE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Squeeze 1/4 cup juice from 2 to 3 tangerines into a small bowl; reserve the spent peels. Cut the remaining tangerines into wedges with their peels intact, and set aside. Add the brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar and cayenne to the tangerine juice and whisk until the sugar dissolves.
• Generously season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. Tuck the wingtips behind the body. Stuff the tangerine peels and 6 ginger slices into the cavity, then tie the legs together using kitchen twine. Place in a large ovenproof skillet, and scatter the tangerine wedges and remaining 2 slices ginger around the chicken.
• Slowly pour the juice mixture all over the chicken, then slide the skillet into the oven. Roast for 30 minutes.
• Using a large spoon or baster, quickly and carefully coat the chicken with the pan sauce. Continue roasting, basting every 10 minutes, until the chicken is browned and cooked through, 20 to 30 minutes longer. An instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast should register 155 degrees and, in the leg, 170 degrees. The chicken will continue to cook while it rests.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for about 5 minutes. If the pan sauce isn't already syrupy, bring it to a boil over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Be sure to wear oven mitts or use a kitchen towel to hold the skillet (the handle is hot). Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bubbles grow larger and paler brown, and the sauce is the consistency of syrup, about 5 minutes. Discard the ginger.
• Serve the chicken whole or carved with the glaze poured all over the meat. Arrange the tangerine wedges from the pan around the bird. You can eat them, if you'd like.

BITTER ORANGE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Melt margarine in large skillet. Add chicken and brown. Remove chicken from skillet.
• Add flour,sugar,salt,dry mustard,and cinnamon to skillet. Stir to make a smooth paste.
• Add juice and stir until it thickens.
• Add chicken.
• Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Add rind or mandarins or ginger or all three.
• Simmer 5 minutes longer.
• Serve over rice or mashed potatoes. Plenty of gravy!