Craig Claibornes Lemon Chicken Recipes

CRAIG CLAIBORNE'S SMOTHERED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Craig Claiborne believed a cast-iron skillet to be essential for the authentic preparation of this dish. Sprinkle the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Select a skillet large enough to hold the chicken comfortably when it is opened up, as for broiling. Fold wings under to secure them.
• Melt the butter in the pan and add the chicken, skin side down. Cover chicken with a plate that will fit comfortably inside the skillet. Place a heavy can, stone or brick on top of the plate to weigh it down. Cook over low heat, checking the chicken skin, until it is nicely browned, about 25 minutes.
• Remove weight and plate. Turn chicken so skin side is up. Replace plate and weight and continue cooking for about 15 minutes more.
• Remove chicken and pour off fat from the skillet, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan. Add the flour to the fat, stirring with a wire whisk over medium heat. Gradually add the chicken broth and, when thickened, return chicken to the skillet, skin side up. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover with the plate and weight and continue cooking over low heat about 20 to 30 minutes longer or until the meat is exceptionally tender. Spoon the sauce over it.
• Cut chicken into serving pieces, and serve with the sauce and fluffy rice on the side.

CRAIG CLAIBORNE'S LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in a shallow dish. Combine soy sauce, sesame oil, salt and gin or vodka, and pour over chicken. Toss to coat, and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Drain chicken and discard marinade. Add chicken pieces to beaten egg whites, and toss to coat. Pour water-chestnut flour on a plate and dredge chicken in flour.
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Pour peanut oil in skillet one-half inch in depth, and heat to 350 degrees. Add chicken in batches. Brown one side, turn and brown other. Drain.
• combine sugar, vinegar, broth, cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water, MSG and lemon juice and zest in pan. Bring to a boil. Stir until thickened.
• Cut chicken into one-inch crosswise slices, and place on top of lettuce on a serving platter. If necessary, keep it warm in oven.
• Add vegetables and fruit to sauce. Remove from heat and stir in extract. Pour over chicken.

CRISPY WONTON CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sesame oil, peach preserves, mayonnaise, soy sauce, chili powder and onion powder, and season to taste with salt.
• Prepare the salad: Add the chicken to the dressing and toss.
• To fry the wonton wrappers, cut the squares into 1/2-inch strips, then cut those strips in half crosswise to shorten them. In a medium saucepan, heat an inch of oil over medium to 350 degrees, or until a wonton strip immediately bubbles when added. Carefully add the wonton strips to the hot oil and, stirring constantly with a slotted spoon, fry until puffy and golden, 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Transfer the crispy wontons to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt.
• Assemble the salad: Add the chopped romaine, scallions, cilantro, mint and half of the fried wontons to the bowl with the dressed chicken, and toss to combine. Season with salt as needed. Top with the remaining fried wontons and serve immediately.

LEE LUM'S LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the chicken breasts in a shallow dish.
• Combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, salt and gin or vodka, and pour over the chicken; toss to coat and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200.
• Beat the egg whites, drain the chicken (discarding the marinade), and toss to coat.
• Pour the water-chestnut flour on a plate and dredge chicken completely in the flour.
• Arrange the shredded lettuce attractively on a platter.
• To cook the chicken, pour the peanut oil into a skillet (use an electric skillet if you have one) to a depth of 1/2 inch and heat to 350 degrees.
• Add the chicken in batches, browning one side, then turning to brown the other; drain and keep warm in the oven if necessary.
• Either while you're cooking the chicken or afterwards (while keeping the chicken warm), in a small saucepan, combine the sugar, rice vinegar, broth, the cornstarch dissolved in the 2 tablespoons water, the msg if desired, the lemon juice and the rind; bring to a boil and stir until thickened.
• Carefully and neatly slice the chicken crosswise into 1" slices, then using a large spatula, place attractively on top of the lettuce.
• Add the vegetables and pineapple to the sauce; remove from the heat, stir in extract, pour over the chicken, and serve immediately.