Golden Apricot Marinated Chicken Recipes

APRICOT-GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cook shallots and ginger in oil in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar and boil until reduced by about half, about 2 minutes. Add soy sauce, preserves, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.
• Purée sauce in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids), then cool to room temperature.
• Divide chicken between 2 large sealable bags and pour marinade over chicken. Seal bags, pressing out excess air, and marinate, chilled, turning bag over occasionally, at least 8 hours.
• Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in middle.
• Line a 17- by 12-inch shallow heavy baking pan with 2 slightly overlapping sheets of foil, then lightly oil foil. Arrange chicken (with marinade) in 1 layer in pan. Roast chicken, turning once, until deep brown, cooked through, and glazed, about 40 minutes total.

MARINATED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH TANGY APRICOT GLAZE

Steps:

• Whisk together apricot preserves, sherry, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper until well blended and smooth. Place marinade in gallon-size plastic bag or narrow dish. Add chicken thighs; place in refrigerator for 4-6 hours, turning chicken occasionally to ensure even marinating.
• Preheat oven to 350°. Remove thighs from marinade, and place thighs in a single layer in a lightly oiled baking dish. A little marinade residue can be left on chicken, but discard excess marinade. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until thoroughly done.
• During last 15 minutes of roasting time, place ¾ cup apricot preserves in a small saucepan; heat over low heat, stirring frequently, for about 3 minutes (or until preserves are of a syrup consistency). Add mustard, brown sugar and lemon juice, and let simmer over low heat until glaze thickens just slightly.
• Serve glaze over chicken thighs.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH APRICOTS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Slash each piece of chicken through the skin a few times, about 1 inch deep. Season with the salt and pepper and place in a large bowl or large resealable plastic bag. Whisk lemon juice, orange juice, honey, garlic, thyme, sumac and 3 tablespoons olive oil in a bowl to combine. Add lemon slices, apricots, olives and olive brine. Pour the marinade over the chicken and cover tightly or remove as much air as possible before sealing it. Set on a small sheet pan and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours, turning the bag from time to time.
• Position a rack 8 inches from the broiler heat source. Place an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and heat oven to 450 degrees. Toss shallots with remaining tablespoon oil and spread out on a large sheet pan, cut sides down. Place on the lower rack and cook, turning once, until starting to turn golden, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven and use your hands and a slotted spoon to scoop the chicken, apricots, lemon slices and olives onto the pan, reserving the marinade. Arrange in an even layer with the chicken skin side up and return to the oven. Cook for 15 minutes, baste the chicken with the drippings, and cook until chicken juices run clear, about 10 minutes longer. Remove the pan from the oven. Heat the broiler to high.
• Pour the reserved marinade and wine over the chicken, and broil until the chicken is browned and the liquid is thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. If the apricots start to get too dark, turn them over in the sauce. Transfer to a platter. If you used chicken breasts, cut them in half. Pour the sauce over everything or serve it on the side.

MOROCCAN ROAST CHICKEN WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• Spatchcock the chickens - see tip, below, or ask your butcher to do it for you. Put the olive oil, coriander, sumac, cumin, fennel, chilli, garlic, lemon zest and juice, pomegranate molasses and some ground black pepper into a food processor or blender, and whizz to a paste. Divide between 2 large food bags, add a chicken to each, then squeeze out the air and seal before giving everything a good squelch to coat thoroughly. Marinate for 24-48 hrs in the fridge, turning and squishing every so often.
• Fire up a barbecue and let the flames die down, or heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Lift the chicken out of the bags and season well with salt. Barbecue or roast the chicken for 25-30 mins on each side until crisp and cooked through. Set aside on a platter, loosely cover with foil, to rest while you do the apricots. If you roasted rather than barbecued, keep the tin juices warm for serving.
• Put the apricots in a small, snug roasting tin. Whisk the preserved lemon, honey, orange blossom and vinegar with some seasoning. Pour over the apricots and roast, or sit on the barbecue, for 20 mins until soft.
• Serve the chicken with any cooking juices, the apricots and saffron yogurt.

GOLDEN APRICOT MARINATED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place mayo into a mixing bowl and mix in enough ketchup to make a dressing.
• Add the jam and onion soup mix.
• Place chicken in a single layer in a roasting pan.
• Pour the marinade over the chicken.
• Cover and marinate overnight.
• Bake for 1-1 1/2 hours at 350.