Matt Lauers Chicken Marbella Recipes

CHICKEN MARBELLA

Steps:

• Arrange the chicken in a large baking dish and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Combine the olive oil, vinegar, dates, olives, capers with their brine, parsley, oregano, garlic and bay leaves in a large bowl. Pour the mixture evenly over the chicken. Flip and rotate the chicken to coat it completely. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• When you are ready to cook the chicken, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Let the chicken sit at room temperature while the oven preheats.
• Arrange the chicken pieces so that they are all skin-side up. Spoon the marinade from the bottom of the dish over the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with the brown sugar. Pour the wine around the chicken. Bake, basting every 10 to 15 minutes with the pan juices, until the chicken is brown on top, the juices run clear when pierced and the internal temperature is 165 degrees F, 50 to 60 minutes. Baste the chicken with its juices, then transfer it to a large platter. Spoon the olives, capers and dates over the chicken with a slotted spoon, only including a little of the sauce. Serve the remaining sauce on the side, if desired.

CHICKEN MARBELLA, UPDATED

Steps:

• Combine the olive oil, vinegar, prunes, olives, capers, bay leaves, garlic, oregano, 2 tablespoons salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper in a large bowl. Add the chicken to the marinade. (You can also place the chicken and marinade in a 2-gallon plastic storage bag and squeeze out the air to make sure the chicken is fully covered with the marinade.) Refrigerate overnight, turning occasionally to be sure the marinade is getting into all of the chicken pieces.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the chicken, skin side up, along with the marinade in one layer in a large (15-by-18-inch) roasting pan, sprinkle with the brown sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper, and pour the wine around (not over!) the chicken. Roast for 45 to 55 minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken is 145 degrees F. Remove the pan from the oven, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. Transfer the chicken, prunes, and olives to a serving platter, sprinkle with salt, and serve hot with the pan juices.

WEEKNIGHT CHICKEN MARBELLA

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high until shimmering and tiny wisps of smoke are visible, about 2 minutes. Add chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until deep golden brown, about 10 minutes. (Covering the chicken speeds up the cook time and prevents the oil from splattering all over your stovetop.) Flip chicken, cover again and cook until golden on second side, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute.
• Arrange prunes, olives, capers and brine, bay leaves and oregano in between chicken pieces. Sprinkle with brown sugar, 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; pour wine and vinegar over top and bring to a boil. Reduce to low, cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a serving platter and return pan to high heat. Cook sauce, swirling occasionally, until reduced and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Spoon pan sauce over chicken and serve.