Eye for a Recipe

This recipe from Food and Wine is a one-pan meal of chicken, potatoes and leeks, topped with a gremolata of parsley, pine nuts, lemon zest, garlic and salt. Make the gremolata and set aside. Place potatoes, leeks and garlic in roasting pan and drizzle with oil, salt and pepper. Add broth and place chicken on top. Roast about 40 minutes, basting halfway through.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Make sure the pine nuts do not contain preservatives. I used Imagine Organic chicken stock.

Place chicken on top of vegetables

Roast until chicken is done and vegetables are tender

Serve topped with the gremolata

Ingredients:

Gremolata

1 small bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves and tender stems, tough stem ends removed

⅓ cup (85 ml) pine nuts, toasted

1 tablespoon (15 ml) grated lemon zest (from 1 large lemon)

1 large garlic clove, finely chopped (about 1 teaspoon/5 ml)

¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) kosher salt

Chicken

1 ½ pounds (680 g) Yukon Gold potatoes (about 4 medium potatoes), peeled, quartered lengthwise, and cut into ½ -inch-thick (1.25-cm) wedges

3 medium leeks, cut crosswise into ¾ -inch-thick (2-cm) pieces (about 4 cups/1 L)

1 garlic head, cloves separated and peeled (10 to 12 cloves)

¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 ½ teaspoons (7.5 ml) kosher salt, divided

½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) black pepper, divided

½ cup (125 ml) chicken broth

4 pounds (1.8 kg) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and legs (about 12 pieces), trimmed

Preparation:

Gremolata

Combine parsley, pine nuts, lemon zest, and garlic on a cutting board. Sprinkle with salt, and finely chop mixture together. Transfer gremolata to a bowl and set aside.

Chicken

Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) with rack 8 inches (20 cm) from heat. Arrange potatoes, leeks, and garlic cloves in bottom of a large broiler-safe roasting pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) oil; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt and ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) pepper. Toss to coat. Pour broth into roasting pan.

Arrange chicken pieces, skin side up, on top of vegetable mixture in roasting pan. Brush chicken evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons (30 ml) oil; sprinkle evenly with remaining ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt and remaining ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) pepper.

Roast in preheated oven on rack 8 inches (20 cm) from heat until vegetables are tender and a thermometer inserted in thickest portion of chicken registers 165°F (74°C), 40 to 45 minutes, spooning pan juices over chicken after about 20 minutes.

Increase oven temperature to broil. (Do not remove roasting pan from oven.) Broil until chicken skin is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes.

Transfer chicken pieces and vegetables to a platter. Spoon sauce from roasting pan over chicken; scatter generously with gremolata (about ¾ cup/187 ml). Serve hot alongside any remaining gremolata for sprinkling. Serves 6.

From Food and Wine

This stir-fry from Real Simple magazine combines economical chicken thighs with scallions, cucumber and noodles. The crispy garlic garnish adds flavour and crunch.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Look for a chicken stock with no additives, preservatives or artificial flavour. I use Imagine Organic brand. Instead of soy sauce use tamari, which is preserved with alcohol instead of sodium benzoate.

Fry the garlic until crispy

Cook the chicken and set aside

Stir fry scallions and ginger

Add cucumber and stir-fry until tender

Serve over noodles

Ingredients:

8 ounces (250 g) linguine

¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil

6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 pound (500 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into thin strips

2 tablespoons (30 ml) cornstarch

Kosher salt

6 scallions, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) lengths, plus additional sliced scallions for serving

2 tablespoons (30 ml) finely chopped fresh ginger

1 English cucumber, sliced into half-moons

1/3 cup (75 ml) low-sodium chicken broth

3 tablespoons (45 ml) soy sauce

Preparation:

Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

Heat the oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer the garlic to paper towels with a slotted spoon. Reserve the oil.

Combine the chicken, cornstarch, and ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) of salt in a bowl; toss to coat. Heat 2 tablespoons of the reserved garlic oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the chicken in an even layer. Cook, without touching, until browned on the bottom, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir and cook until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

Add the scallions and ginger to the skillet. Cook over high heat, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cucumber and cook, stirring, until crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken, pasta, broth, and soy sauce. Cook, stirring, until coated and hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Top with the sliced scallions and crispy garlic. Serves 4.

From Real Simple

This very easy recipe from the May 2015 issue of Bon Appetit yields great results. Marinate chicken thighs in vinegar, brown and bake. Meanwhile, sauté radishes and mustard greens in butter, dress with vinegar and garnish with fresh tarragon. Cook’s note: if you can’t find mustard greens, use kale or Swiss chard.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Make sure you use butter with only one ingredient: Cream.

Sauteed radishes have a mellow flavour

Wilt the greens slightly

Vinegar-marinated chicken with buttered greens and radishes

Ingredients:

2 pounds (900 g) skin-on bone-in chicken thighs

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

¼ cup (60 ml) plus 1 tablespoon (15 ml) distilled white vinegar

1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil

2 tablespoons (30 ml) unsalted butter

8 radishes, quartered, halved if small

1 bunch mustard greens, leaves torn

4 tablespoons (60 ml) tarragon leaves, divided

Preparation:

Season chicken with salt and pepper and place in a large baking dish. Pour ¼ cup vinegar over chicken and let sit 15–20 minutes. Remove chicken from marinade and pat skin dry. Reserve baking dish (no need to wipe it out).

Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Working in batches, cook chicken, skin side down, until skin is golden brown and crisp, 8–10 minutes; turn and cook until other side is just browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer chicken to reserved baking dish; reserve skillet. Bake chicken until cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 165°F (74°C), 10–12 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat butter in same skillet over medium-high. Add radishes, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until radishes are browned and tender, about 5 minutes. Add mustard greens and toss to coat; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mustard greens are just wilted, about 2 minutes (they should still have some spring in their step). Add 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) tarragon and remaining 1 Tbsp.  (15 ml) vinegar; toss to combine.

Serve greens and radishes with chicken topped with remaining 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) tarragon. Serves 4.

From the May 2015 issue of Bon Appetit

At this time of year, I like to cook a big pot of soup on Sunday. This soothing Ginger Chicken Soup from epicurious.com is delicious and very comforting if you have the sniffles.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

There are no additives or preservatives in these ingredients.

This recipe calls for lots of ginger

Remove the chicken breasts after about 30 minutes

Shred the chicken

Rewarm the stock after straining out the solids

Ginger Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

1 onion, sliced

2 celery stalks, chopped

8 ounces (250 g) unpeeled scrubbed ginger, cut into ½ “-thick (1.27 cm) slices

2 garlic cloves, crushed

10 whole black peppercorns

1 3-pound (1.5 kg) whole organic chicken, cut into 7 pieces (2 breasts, 2 legs with thighs attached, 2 wings, 1 back)

Kosher salt

Cilantro leaves (optional)

Preparation:

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large heavy pot. Add chicken, placing breasts on top. Add 6 quarts (6 L) water (preferably filtered or spring water); bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover with lid slightly ajar. Reduce heat to low; simmer until chicken breasts are just cooked through, about 30 minutes. Transfer chicken breasts to a plate; let cool, then cover and chill. Continue to simmer soup, uncovered, until broth is fully flavored, about 2 ½ hours longer. Return breasts to soup to rewarm, about 5 minutes.

Remove chicken from broth. When cool enough to handle, coarsely shred meat; discard skin and bones. Place a fine-mesh sieve over another large pot; strain broth, discarding solids in strainer (you should have about 8 cups broth). Season with salt.

Rewarm soup. Divide chicken among bowls. Pour hot broth over, dividing equally. Garnish soup with cilantro leaves, if desired. Serves 8.

From Epicurious.com

I needed to use up the last batch of Swiss chard from the garden, so I used it in this recipe adapted from the October 2014 issue of Real Simple. The recipe calls for collard greens, but you can use Swiss chard, kale or any other hardy green. Brown the chicken and set it aside while you sauté scallions, garlic and ginger. Then add the chard and toss until wilted and tender. Add the sauce, cooked chicken and cashews, toss to coat and serve over steamed rice.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Use tamari instead of soy sauce, because it uses alcohol as a preservative instead of sodium benzoate. Check the cashews for preservatives. I make my own oyster sauce from tamari, sugar and cornstarch (see recipe below). Imagine brand chicken stock and Marukan rice vinegar are additive-free, as is Emile Noel organic sesame oil.

Stir fry the chicken strips until browned and then set aside

Stir fry the Swiss chard until wilted

Add the chicken and cashews back to the pan and coat with sauce

Cashew chicken and greens stir fry

Ingredients:

For the sauce

1 tbsp (15 ml) dry sherry

1/3 cup (75 ml) chicken stock

2 ½ tbsp (40 ml) oyster sauce (recipe follows)

2 tsp (10 ml) sesame oil

1 tsp (5 ml) rice vinegar

¼ tsp (1 ml) white pepper

1 tsp (5 ml) cornstarch

Oyster sauce

1 ½ tbsp (25 ml) tamari

1 tbsp (15 ml) sugar

1 ½ tsp (7 ml) cornstarch

For the chicken

3 tbsp (45 ml) canola oil

1 ½ pounds (675 kg) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into ½ -inch (1.25 cm)strips

2 tbsp (30 ml) cornstarch

Kosher salt

1 bunch scallions, sliced, white and green parts separated

4 cloves garlic, sliced

1 ½ tablespoons (25 ml) finely chopped fresh ginger

2 bunches collard greens, Swiss chard or kale, stems discarded and leaves cut into strips (10 cups/2.5 L))

3 tbsp (45 ml) tamari

½ cup roasted cashews (125 ml)

White rice, for serving

Preparation:

Heat 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat.

Toss the chicken with the cornstarch and ¾ teaspoon (3 ml) salt. Cook, in batches, turning the pieces once, until well browned (but not cooked through), 3 to 4 minutes.

Transfer the chicken to a plate; reserve the skillet. Reduce heat to medium.

Add the remaining tablespoon (15 ml) of oil to the reserved skillet. Add the scallion whites, garlic, and ginger. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the scallions are slightly soft, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add as many greens to the skillet as will fit. Cook, tossing frequently and adding more greens when there is room, until crisp-tender, 5 to 7 minutes.

Add the sauce, cashews and chicken to the skillet. Cook, tossing frequently, until the chicken is cooked through and everything is coated with the sauce, 2 to 3 minutes.

Serve over the rice, topped with the scallion greens. Serves 4.

From the October 2014 issue of Real Simple

I had never tried daikon radish before, but this recipe from Lucy Waverman inspired me to give it a try. It looks like a large, white carrot, but tastes like a mild radish. It added great flavour and crunch to this chicken stir-fry.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Use tamari instead of soy sauce, because it uses alcohol as a preservative, not sodium benzoate. Look for a balsamic vinegar with only naturally occurring sulfites.

Daikon looks like a large white carrot

While the chicken marinates, prepare the daikon, carrots and bok choy

Brown the chicken

Cook the daikon and carrots until tender-crisp

Cook the bok choy until it wilts and return the chicken to the pan

Chicken with daikon radish

Ingredients:

2 tbsp soy sauce

½ tsp minced ginger

½ tsp sugar

8 oz (250 g) boneless, skinless chicken breast

Finishing Sauce

1 tsp chopped ginger

1 tsp chopped garlic

1/4 cup chopped shallots

1 tbsp soy sauce

2 tsp black or balsamic vinegar

½ tsp sugar

Stir-Fry

1 lb (500 g) daikon radish, peeled

2 medium carrots, peeled

6 cups baby bok choy

2 tbsp (30 ml) vegetable oil

¼ cup finely chopped green onions

Preparation:

Combine soy sauce, ginger and sugar in a bowl. Slice chicken in half horizontally and then into thin strips. Add chicken to the marinade and let sit for 30 minutes. Drain chicken and discard remaining marinade.

Stir together ginger, garlic, shallots, soy sauce, vinegar and sugar in a small bowl and reserve. Cut daikon in half lengthwise, if large. Slice in thin slices (1/8 inch) on diagonal.

Cut carrots the same way. Divide bok choy into leaves.

Heat a wok or skillet over high heat until pan is very hot. Add oil and heat again. Add chicken and cook, stirring until slightly undercooked, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to a plate and reserve. Add daikon and carrots. Stir-fry until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add bok choy and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes longer – until vegetables are crisp-tender.

Return chicken and toss with vegetables. Pour sauce over, tossing everything together.

Bring to boil and cook for 1 to 2 more minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serve immediately scattered with green onions.

From Lucy Waverman

Insalata Caprese is one of my favourite dishes, so when I saw this recipe in an ad for chicken I thought I’d try it. It’s very simple—mix oil, salt, pepper, garlic, lemon juice and lemon zest in a baking dish, add thin chicken breasts, top with stock, tomato, cheese slices and basil and bake. It looks great, tastes great and is ready in 30 minutes.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Use fresh lemon juice and a stock with all-natural ingredients, such as Imagine brand. The fresh mozzarella, also known as bocconcini, should have no colour or preservatives. I use Tre Stella brand.

Place tomato slices and cheese on top of chicken before baking

I served the Caprese Chicken with noodles and broccolini

Ingredients:

1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil

¼ tsp (1 ml) salt

¼ tsp (1 ml) ground black pepper

1 large clove garlic, minced

Zest of 1 lemon, divided

1 tsp (5 ml) fresh lemon juice

1 lb. (454 g) skinless boneless chicken breasts, pounded thinly

¼ cup (60 ml) chicken stock or water

5 large tomato slices

4 medium balls of fresh mozzarella cheese, each sliced into 3 pieces

5 fresh basil leaves, chopped

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Mix together oil, salt, pepper, garlic, lemon juice and ½ the lemon zest in a 9 x 13 inch (3.5 L) ovenproof baking dish. Add chicken, turning to coat, and allow to stand for 5 to 10 minutes.

Pour stock over chicken and top with tomato, cheese slices and basil.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until chicken reaches internal temperature of 170 degrees F (77 degrees C). Sprinkle with remaining lemon zest before serving. Serves 3-4.

From mapleleafprime.ca

Paillard is a term used for meat, usually veal or chicken, that is pounded thin and then quickly seared on top on the stove. This recipe for chicken paillards from Martha Stewart Living is healthy and quick to make for a weeknight supper. In addition to the chicken, it includes roasted squash and onion, and a garnish of fried sage leaves and baby spinach. And, if you’ve had a tough day, pounding the chicken can be very therapeutic!

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

The only thing that may contain artificial ingredients is the butter, which can contain colour. Look for a brand of butter that has only one ingredient: cream.

Toss the squash and onion with oil and put in the oven to roast.

Pound the chicken to a thickness of about a quarter-in

Fry the sage leaves

The sage should be crispy

The thin paillards sear quickly on top on the stove

Chicken paillards with squash, onion, fried sage and spinach

Ingredients:

½ small kabocha or acorn squash, unpeeled, seeded and cut lengthwise into ¾ -inch (1.9 cm) slices

1 small red onion, cut into wedges, root end attached

2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil

Coarse salt

4 skinless, boneless chicken-breast halves, 4 to 5 ounces each, (113 g to 141 g each), butterflied

Red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon (15 ml) unsalted butter

16 fresh sage leaves (from about 4 sprigs)

1 cup (250 ml) baby spinach leaves

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (218 C). Distribute squash and onion evenly on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) oil, season with salt, and toss to coat. Spread in a single layer and roast until squash is tender, about 15-25 minutes.

Meanwhile, pound chicken to a 1/8 to ¼ -inch (0.3 cm to 0.6 cm) thickness (use the smooth side of a meat tenderizer, a rolling pin or a heavy pot). Season on both sides with salt and red pepper flakes. Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Swirl in remaining tablespoon (15 ml) oil, then butter. Fry sage until just crisp, about 1 minute; let drain on a paper towel.

Working in 2 batches, add chicken to pan and cook until golden and cooked through, about 1 minute on each side. Divide chicken among 4 plates and top with spinach, squash, onion, and sage. Serves 4.

From Martha Stewart Living