Chicken Tenders With Balsamic Fig Sauce Recipes

BALSAMIC FIG GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray an 8x8'' baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
• Prepare Glaze: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sauté until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add in garlic and sauté until fragrant, 30 seconds- 1 minute. Add in fig preserves, honey, balsamic vinegar and sprig of thyme. Increase heat to bring mixture to a boil and immediately reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced by half, about 10-12 minutes. Use tongs to remove thyme sprig and discard.Optional for smoother glaze: Use an immersion blender (or transfer glaze to a stand blender) and puree until smooth.
• Meanwhile, season chicken: Place chicken on a clean work surface and pat the chicken dry. Season both sides of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Transfer chicken to the prepared baking dish (they should fit snugly). Spoon the reduced glaze over the chicken, using the back of a spoon to evenly coat and distribute the glaze. Add 4 remaining sprigs of thyme to the pan.
• Roast: Transfer the baking dish to the oven. Bake (basting the chicken with the glaze once during cooking), for 35-40 minutes or until the juices run clear and chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Remove from oven and let chicken rest 5 minutes. Optional: Switch oven to broil during last 3-4 minutes of baking for a more golden brown chicken. Watch the chicken carefully as it can burn easily!!
• Serve: Garnish chicken with fresh thyme, walnuts and cheese if using. Enjoy!

CHICKEN WITH BALSAMIC FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle both sides of chicken evenly with 1 1/2 tsps thyme, 1/4 tsp salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add chicken and cook for 6 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Remove from pan and keep warm by covering plate with towel or placing in warm oven.
• Reduce heat to medium and add butter to skillet.
• Add onions and saute for 3 minutes.
• Add broth, vinegar, soy sauce and figs.
• Simmer until sauce is reduced to 1 cup (about 3 minutes).
• Add 1 tablespoon thyme and 1/4 tsp salt.
• Cut chicken breasts on the diagonal into slices. Serve sauce over chicken.

FRESH FIGS AND CHICKEN THIGHS IN SHALLOT-BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Steps:

• Pat chicken thighs dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken thighs and cook, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Add figs, chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, and shallot. Bring contents to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and let simmer until chicken thighs are no longer pink in the centers and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the centers reads at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 8 minutes. Transfer thighs to a serving plate and keep warm.
• Remove figs from the skillet using a slotted spoon and place them around the chicken on the plate.
• Add minced rosemary to the skillet contents, increase heat to medium-high, and allow contents to come to a full boil to create a the reduction. Continue to boil, stirring often, until liquid reduces to approximately 1 cup, 8 to 10 minutes. Drizzle balsamic reduction over chicken and figs and garnish with rosemary sprigs. Serve warm.