California Sherry Chicken Recipes

CALIFORNIA SHERRY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in a resealable plastic bag with flour, salt, and pepper. Seal bag and shake to coat. Remove chicken from bag, shaking off excess flour.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Brown chicken on each side for about 5 minutes, or until golden. Remove from skillet and set aside.
• In same skillet combine sherry, broth, garlic and a squeeze of lemon and bring to a boil. Return chicken to skillet, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside.
• In the meantime, saute carrots and zucchini in a separate medium skillet until they are tender. Add to simmering chicken and sauce and heat through before serving.

TANGY CHERRY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with the 3 turns of the pan of extra-virgin olive oil, about 3 tablespoons. Season chicken liberally with half of the thyme, salt and pepper and add to the hot skillet. Cook the chicken for 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Remove the chicken from the pan to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
• In the bottom of a medium sauce pot, heat and toast pine nuts over moderate heat and remove. Add 2 cups stock and 1 tablespoon butter to the pot and bring to a boil.
• Return the chicken skillet to the burner over medium-high heat, add 1 turn of the pan of extra-virgin olive oil, add the onion, celery, crushed red pepper flakes, nutmeg, salt and pepper, cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the celery and onions are tender. Add the white wine, and cook until the pan is almost dry, 1 minute. Add the 2 cups boiling chicken stock, and dried cherries and continue to cook for about 5 to 6 minutes or until there is only about 1/2 cup of liquid left in the pan. Turn the heat off the under the pan. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons cold butter in small pieces and whisk until it has completely melted.
• In a medium saucepan bring the remaining 1 cup chicken stock to a boil, add couscous, allspice, cinnamon and a little salt. Cover pot and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Drizzle honey over the couscous and add the pine nuts, scallions and parsley. Toss and fluff with a fork to combine.
• Serve the chicken whole or sliced with cherry sauce poured over it and couscous alongside. Dark seared greens or simple salad complete the meal.

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH GARLIC-SHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• For brine, in a large saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil. Cook and stir until salt is dissolved. Remove from the heat; cool to room temperature., Place a large heavy-duty resealable plastic bag inside a second large resealable plastic bag; add chicken. Carefully pour cooled brine into bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible; seal bags and turn to coat. Refrigerate 1-2 hours, turning several times., Preheat oven to 400°. Drain and discard brine. Rinse chicken with cold water; pat dry. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon pepper. In a large ovenproof skillet, brown chicken in oil over medium heat. , Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170°. Remove chicken and keep warm. Drain drippings, reserving 1 tablespoon., In the drippings, saute garlic for 1 minute. Add broth, sherry or additional broth and thyme. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced to 1 cup. Discard thyme. Stir in the butter, lemon juice and remaining pepper. Serve with chicken.

CALIFORNIA CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Warm oil in skillet and add chicken and onion. Cook 15 minutes or until chicken is browned and just about done. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Place chicken on cookie sheet and top each breast with 1 to 2 slices of tomato and 2 to 3 slices of cheese. Place in oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until cheese melts. Remove from oven, add 2 to 3 slices of avocado on top of each breast, and serve immediately.

GARLIC-SHERRY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Use a sharp knife and poultry shears to divide chicken breasts into 4-6oz, serving pieces. You can get two pieces out of a moderate-sized breast or 3 pieces out of a large one.
• Drain and coarsely chop artichoke hearts.
• Heat butter and olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet that can go into the oven.
• Brown chicken on all sides, browning the skin side first. Remove to a dish that will catch the juices.
• Saute onions and garlic on low-medium until onions are soft and translucent.
• Add mushrooms if using them and cook briefly.
• Add sherry to pan and stir until it has all evaporated.
• Sprinkle flour over the onions and cook as a roux for a minute or two. If there is not enough fat remaining in the pan add a little more butter.
• Slowly add chicken broth, stirring vigorously so as not to create any lumps. Add salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then turn heat down to a simmer.
• Add artichoke hearts, chicken pieces, and chicken juices. Stir in gently.
• Cover and simmer 8-12 minutes or until the chicken is barely cooked and the sauce has thickened slightly. (The sauce will still be quite runny, not thick like gravy).
• Hold in oven at 225F if necessary. Could be held in a crockpot on warm for buffet service.
• I suggest serving over rice or noodles. Also good with crusty bread to sop up the sauce. Your favorite green vegetable will round out the meal nicely.
• Note: If you wish to use boneless, skinless breasts I suggest cooking them until almost done in the browning stage so that they will finish cooking as they sit while you make the sauce, then rewarming them briefly in the sauce immediately before serving.
• Note: If your family prefers dark meat you could use thighs instead of or in addition to breasts but will probably need to pour off excess grease before adding the flour.
• Note: If you want a thicker, more gravy-like sauce increase the flour to achieve your preferred texture.
• Note: This recipe can be made with boneless pork chops instead of chicken if you follow the directions for boneless breasts.
• Variation: Decrease the amount of chicken stock slightly. Add the juice and zest of one lemon and 1 tbs capers.
• Variation: Add 1-2lbs of barely-cooked asparagus tips at the last moment and cook just long enough to heat through.

RUSTIC GARLIC CHICKEN WITH SHERRY & BRANDY

Steps:

• Rub the chicken pieces in a mixture of the paprika, salt and pepper.
• (I put plastic bags on my hands to stop the bits getting under my nails!) Gently heat the Olive Oil in a large flame-proof casserole dish and fry the garlic until it is lightly browned.
• Remove the garlic with a slotted spoon.
• Add the chicken pieces and gently fry until light brown on all sides.
• Return garlic to the dish, add the sherry, brandy and bay leaves.
• Bring to the boil and then cover and simmer for approx 45 mins until the chicken is tender.

CALIFORNIA CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine 1 tablespoon flour, salt, paprika and pepper; sprinkle over chicken. In a large skillet, heat 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat; brown chicken on all sides. Remove chicken to a large baking dish., Melt remaining butter in the same skillet; saute mushrooms until tender. Sprinkle remaining flour over mushrooms; cook and stir until blended. Gradually stir in broth and sherry. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened., Arrange artichoke hearts over chicken and top with mushroom sauce. Cover and bake at 375° for 40 minutes or until chicken is tender and juices run clear.

CHICKEN IN CREAMY DIJON-SHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and sauté until just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to plate. Add mushrooms, onion and peppercorns to skillet and sauté until onion is tender, about 7 minutes. Add broth, cream, Sherry and mustard to skillet. Simmer until reduced to sauce consistency, scraping up browned bits, about 15 minutes. Return chicken and any accumulated juices to pan. Cook until chicken is just heated through, about 4 minutes longer.

CHICKEN SAUTé WITH SHERRY

Steps:

• Melt butter in skillet and sauté chicken pieces, turning to color on all sides-do not let them get too brown, the chicken should be just a delicate golden color. Reduce flame and add salt, pepper, and ginger. Add 1/2 cup sherry and cook gently for 15 to 20 minutes, turning chicken once or twice to bathe it evently in the juices. When tender remove to a hot platter. Add remaining sherry to pan, turn up heat, cook, and stir, scraping up the brown crust from the pan and blending it into the sauce. When blended and hot, pour sauce over chicken. Serve with sautéed or fried potatoes and a green salad. With this, drink a dry white wine.