Chicken With Fennel And Red Peppers Recipes

CHICKEN WITH RED PEPPER AIOLI AND SHAVED FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Put the chicken in a wide pot. Add the broth, olive oil, fennel fronds, thyme, garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, then add enough water to cover the chicken and turn the heat to medium low. Poach the chicken, turning occasionally and keeping the liquid just below a simmer, until just cooked through, about 30 minutes (a thermometer inserted into the center of a chicken breast should register 155 degrees F to 160 degrees F). Remove the chicken to a plate with a slotted spoon and let cool to room temperature. Increase the heat to medium high and simmer the cooking liquid until the garlic is tender, about 5 more minutes; remove the garlic and set aside. Strain the cooking liquid; reserve 1/4 cup and set aside. While the chicken is cooking, place the red peppers directly on a stovetop gas burner over high heat and char on all sides, turning with tongs, about 10 minutes. (If you don't have a gas stove, char the peppers on a baking sheet under the broiler, turning occasionally, about 12 minutes.) Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside, 20 minutes. Peel the skin off the peppers with your fingers; discard the stems and seeds and chop.
• Make the aioli: Puree about three-quarters of the roasted red peppers in a blender with the mayonnaise, reserved garlic and 1 tablespoon lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Make the salad: Thinly slice the fennel bulbs (use a mandoline if you have one) and transfer to a large bowl. Finely chop the remaining roasted red peppers, then add to the bowl along with the parsley, the remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice and the reserved 1/4 cup cooking liquid; toss. Season with salt and pepper. Slice the chicken; top with the aioli and serve with the fennel salad. Photograph by Anna Williams

CHICKEN PAILLARDS WITH FENNEL, RED PEPPER AND APRICOT SALAD

Steps:

• To make the chicken, split the breasts if they are joined in the center so that you have 4 pieces. Slice each piece in half horizontally to create 8 flat paillards. Place each paillard between layers of wax paper and pound them lightly so that they are of even thickness and no more than 1/4-inch thick. Place them in a large zip-lock plastic bag or a nonreactive bowl and set aside. Whisk together the oil, garlic, lemon juice, rosemary, salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the chicken, seal or cover and refrigerate for at least an hour and up to 4 hours.
• Heat 2 large nonstick skillets over high heat (or work in 2 batches if using 1 skillet). When the pans are hot, add the breasts and cook them just until nicely browned, 1 to 2 minutes for each side. Transfer them to a platter and keep warm.
• To make the warm salad, add the tablespoon of olive oil to one of the skillets used to cook the chicken and place over medium heat. Add the garlic and fennel and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the wine, bell pepper, apricots, olives and anchovy and cook until the fennel is tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve over the paillards.

BROILED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH FENNEL, ONIONS, AND ROASTED RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Char the peppers over an open gas burner for 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally. Alternatively, char the peppers under the broiler for 7 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally, with the oven door slightly ajar to allow steam to escape. Place the charred peppers in bowl and cover with plastic wrap. When cool, peel and seed the peppers and slice lengthwise.
• Heat 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, fennel and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and sweet. Deglaze with vinegar and combine with the peppers.
• Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet and place the chicken thighs on it. Drizzle the chicken thighs lightly with extra-virgin olive oil and season liberally with salt, pepper, and fennel pollen. Arrange rack in upper third of oven; chicken thighs should be 8-inches from the broiler. Broil the chicken thighs for 12 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally. Dress the cooked chicken with lemon zest and juice.
• Arrange the chicken on a platter and top with the onions, fennel, and peppers. Scatter fennel fronds over the top.

PASTA WITH GARLIC, FENNEL AND ROASTED RED PEPPER

Steps:

• In a large skillet cook the garlic in the oil over moderate heat, stirring, until golden. Add the fennel, red pepper, dried red pepper and salt to taste and cook the vegetables, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the broth, cover and steam over moderately high heat for 3 minutes, or until tender. Add the drained pasta and fennel fronds and toss to heat. Transfer to a serving dish and serve with parmesan cheese.

CHICKEN WITH FENNEL AND RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut chicken into 1/2-inch wide by 2-inch long strips.
• Heat oil in a medium, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until white on the outside. Transfer to a plate.
• Add onion, red pepper and fennel to the pan. Stir to coat with oil and juices from the chicken. Sauté 2 minutes. Mix in garlic. Cook until onions and fennel are golden, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Return chicken to the pan. Stir in cumin, beans, parsley, 1/4 cup broth, vinegar and salt. Simmer until chicken is white in the center and vegetables are still al dente, 5 to 6 minutes.
• With a slotted spoon, transfer food to a bowl and keep warm on the side. Mix cornstarch into the remaining broth until well blended. Stir into the liquid in the pan. Heat to a simmer, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Return chicken mixture to the pan. Stir until mixture is coated with the sauce and heated through. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve with rice or roasted potatoes.

BROILED CHICKEN WITH THYME, FENNEL AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cook fennel bulbs in large saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 8 minutes. Drain; cool.
• Toss fennel, bell peppers, olive oil and 1 teaspoon chopped thyme in large bowl to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Preheat broiler. Using mallet or rolling pin, pound each chicken breast between sheets of plastic to 1/2-inch thickness. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Place chicken, skin side down, on broiler pan.
• Watching closely, broil chicken 4 to inches from heat source until golden brown and almost cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove broiler pan from oven. Pour off any pan drippings. Using tongs, turn chicken over and broil until skin is golden brown and chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes longer. Transfer chicken to platter. Tent with foil to keep warm. Pour off any additional pan drippings.
• Working in 2 batches, arrange peppers and fennel in single layer on broiler pan. Broil until vegetables begin to brown and peppers and tender, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer vegetables to platter with chicken.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat. Mix in remaining 2 teaspoons chopped thyme, lemon peel and fennel seeds. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle butter mixture over chicken. Garnish chicken with thyme sprigs, if desired, and serve.