Vickis Favorite Chicken With Grapes Couscous And Roasted Asparagus Recipes

ROAST CHICKEN WITH GRAPES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Cook the couscous as the label directs, omitting any oil or butter. Fluff with a fork and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and keep warm. Meanwhile, put the chicken and onion on a rimmed baking sheet and toss with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the herbes de Provence, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Arrange the chicken skin-side up and roast until the chicken begins to brown, about 15 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and scatter the grapes on top. Continue roasting until the chicken is golden brown and the grapes are soft, 15 to 20 more minutes. Divide the chicken, onion and grapes among plates and drizzle with the pan drippings. Serve with the couscous.

SHEET-PAN CHICKEN WITH SHALLOTS AND GRAPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss together the chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic and za'atar, if using. Season well with salt and pepper. Place the shallots and the grapes on the sheet pan and gently toss with the remaining olive oil and season well with salt.
• Nestle the chicken skin-side up in between the shallots and grapes and lay the thyme sprigs on top of the mixture. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the shallots and grapes at the edges of the pan begin to soften and caramelize.
• Turn the oven to broil and move the oven rack to sit right below it. Remove and discard the thyme sprigs and broil the chicken for 1 to 2 minutes until the skin of the chicken is crispy and golden. Scatter with chopped thyme and season with flaky salt.

MOJITO CHICKEN AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
• Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Arrange asparagus on baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. Season with salt and black pepper. Roast 10 minutes. Top the asparagus with almonds and roast 5 more minutes, until fork-tender and almonds are golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and sugar and cook 3 minutes, until soft stirring with wooden spoon. Add chicken and saute 3 to 5 minutes, until golden brown on all sides. Add lime juice and carefully, off the heat, add the rum. Return to the heat and add lime zest, salt, pepper and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 3 minutes, until chicken is cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes. Serve chicken, garnished with mint, over couscous with the almond topped asparagus on the side.

PEPPER CRUSTED TENDERLOIN WITH MUSHROOM CREAM AND ROAST ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Spread asparagus on small baking sheet and dress with a liberal drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt. Roast the spears in a hot oven until tender and ends are crisp and slightly brown at edges, about 10 to 12 minutes. Asparagus should remain bright green.
• Take the chill off the meat then pour the black pepper onto a small plate. Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high to high heat. When oil smokes, press each steak into pepper to coat then place peppered side down in the skillet. Sear and caramelize the meat 3 to 4 minutes, turn and cook 2 minutes more for rare, 3 minutes for pink.
• While the meat cooks, heat a small skillet over medium flame and melt then butter. Add mushrooms and lightly saute them for 4 to 5 minutes. Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper and add cognac or brandy to the pan. Be careful of flare ups. You may want to add the liquor off the stove top then return the skillet to the heat. Reduce the liquid by half, cooking off the alcohol and concentrating the flavor, then stir in the cream and warm it through. Reduce heat a bit and let sauce thicken 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spoon sauce over meat and serve with asparagus alongside.

ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over medium heat. Season the water with salt and add the asparagus. Cook until tender-crisp then transfer the asparagus to a serving plate. Squeeze the juice of the lemon over the top and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

SAUTéED CHICKEN WITH ROASTED GRAPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Put half the grapes in the pan and roast 1 hour, turning grapes after 30 minutes. They will become wrinkled and golden
• Meanwhile, in a blender, purée remaining grapes until smooth. Strain through a sieve, pressing to release all juices from skins. Discard skins.
• In a large, heavy nonstick skillet, melt half the butter over high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and cook on both sides until golden brown, reducing the heat to prevent scorching, about 4 minutes per side. Add strained grape purée and simmer until chicken is cooked through and juice is syrupy, about 5 minutes. Transfer chicken to a serving platter and keep warm. Whisk remaining butter into sauce and cook over high heat for 1 minute. Add roasted grapes and heat through, then pour sauce and grapes over chicken. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

PESTO CHICKEN & ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute chicken in oil until no longer pink. Remove and set aside. In the same skillet, saute asparagus until crisp-tender. Stir in the cream, pesto and pepper until blended. Return chicken to the pan; heat through. Serve with couscous.

CHICKEN BRAISED WITH GRAPES

Steps:

• Pat chicken parts dry. Melt butter in a 4-quart casserole. Brown chicken on both sides, a few pieces at a time, over medium-high heat, removing pieces to a platter as they finish. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium.
• Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, a couple of minutes until soft. Stir in sherry vinegar, chicken stock and cardamom. Return chicken to the pot and baste with stock mixture. Place grape bunches in pot, add thyme, cover and reduce heat to very low. Let cook 30 minutes. Chicken juices should run clear when thigh or leg is pierced with the tip of a knife.
• Transfer chicken to a warm serving platter and arrange grape clusters on top and around chicken. Tent with foil to keep warm. Heat pot on high, stir in balsamic vinegar and cook 2 to 3 minutes until sauce is somewhat reduced and thickened. Check seasoning. Discard thyme. Spoon sauce over chicken and grapes, and serve.

LEMON ROASTED SPRING CHICKEN WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Arrange the chicken pieces, onion wedges, garlic, lemon slices, asparagus and peas in a roasting tin in a single layer, then sprinkle over the oregano, drizzle with the olive oil and pour over the stock. Give everything a good stir to mix well, then dot the butter over the chicken pieces and season well. Cover the whole tin with foil and bake for 30 mins.
• Remove the foil and bake for 20-30 mins more until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear, and the vegetables are tender.
• Heat the grill to high. Put the tin under the grill for a few minutes to crisp up the chicken skin, if needed, being careful not to let the asparagus catch. Serve straight from the tin, or on a platter, with crusty bread to mop up the juices.

VICKI'S FAVORITE CHICKEN WITH GRAPES, COUSCOUS AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Trim tough ends of asparagus and save for soup. Place asparagus in a large bowl and toss with about 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of chopped thyme leaves and salt and pepper. Spread the asparagus out on a cookie sheet and roast 10 to 12 minutes until the asparagus is tender and crispy at the tips. Heat a large skillet over medium to medium high heat; add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, and 2 tablespoons butter to the pan. Place flour in a shallow dish. Season chicken with salt and pepper then dredge the tenders in flour and add it to the pan. Cook chicken 7 to 8 minutes until browned. Add wine and scrape up browned bits as wine cooks down and bubbles, 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup stock to skillet. Combine cream and mustard and add to stock. Add grapes to the pan and turn chicken and grapes to coat and combine with the sauce. Simmer 5 minutes over low heat. Bring remaining 2 cups chicken stock and remaining tablespoon of fresh thyme to a boil in a small pot. Add couscous. Put a tight fitting lid on pot and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Serve tenders and grapes on couscous alongside asparagus