Down Under Chicken Recipes

DOWN-HOME CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large shallow dish, combine the flour, salt and pepper. Add chicken, a few pieces at a time, and turn to coat. , In a large skillet, heat oil. Brown chicken in oil on all sides; remove to paper towels. Drain drippings and return chicken to the pan., In a bowl, combine the lemon juice, ketchup, molasses, oil, Worcestershire sauce, cloves, salt and pepper. Pour over chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. Serve with rice.

CHICKEN UNDER A BRICK IN A HURRY

Steps:

• Set a large piece of foil and a heavy skillet aside for weighing down chicken. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Pour 1 Tbsp. oil into a medium cast-iron skillet. Arrange chicken thighs in pan skin side down (make sure they don't overlap) and set pan over medium-high. Place foil over chicken, then set skillet on top. Cook chicken, checking halfway through to make sure skin isn't taking on color too quickly and reducing heat to medium if needed, until skin is deep golden brown and crisp and flesh is almost completely cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine anchovy, garlic, parsley, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Mix in vinegar, mustard, red pepper flakes, and remaining 4 Tbsp. oil, then scallions. Taste and season pesto verde with more salt if needed.
• Remove top skillet and check chicken. There should be only a thin band of medium-rare flesh on the thickest part of thighs. Using a thin spatula, release chicken skin from pan and turn thighs over. Remove pan from heat and let chicken sit to finish cooking through, about 1 minute.
• Spoon some pesto verde onto a platter. Top with chicken, arranging skin side up, and spoon more pesto over (but don't cover up all that beautiful skin!).

"UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN CHICKEN"

Steps:

• Prepare chicken breasts by splitting whole breast and using flat end of meat tenderizing tool to flatten each breast to about 1/4 inch in thickness, (placing breast in large plastic freezer bag, before flattening works well).
• Store prepared chicken in refrigerator, while preparing filling.
• Sautee shallot and garlic in 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, just until tender, cool slightly.
• Mix together the ricotta, fontina cheese, shallots, garlic, and chopped figs, mix well; then add parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt and ground pepper.
• Fill chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon filling, roll, place 2 whole sage leaves on top of chicken breast, (seam side down), then wrap 1 slice of pancetta.
• Continue to fill and wrap remaining chicken breasts then place in large dutch oven or similar heavy baking pan, that has been coated with olive oil.
• Before baking drizzle chicken breast with olive oil, and sprinkle with cracked black pepper.
• Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes.
• Remove chicken to platter and cover with foil. Deglaze baking pan, over medium heat with chicken broth and Marsala wine, let reduce to about 1/2 then swirl in 1 tablespoon of cold unsalted butter.
• Pour sauce over chicken, and garnish with sprigs of Italian parsley and halved fresh figs.
• Mangia!

CHEF JOHN'S CHICKEN UNDER A BRICK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Use kitchen shears to cut down both sides of the backbone. Remove backbone and discard. Cut through breastbone from the inside until chicken folds out like a book and lays flat.
• Season chicken all over with salt and black pepper, and sprinkle herbes de Provence on the inside. Let chicken sit for 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature; pat dry with paper towels. Brush skin-side of chicken with oil and season again with salt and black pepper.
• Heat an oven-proof cast iron skillet over high heat until very hot, about 5 minutes. Place chicken, skin-side down, in hot skillet and place bricks evenly on top to weigh down chicken.
• Roast chicken in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove bricks, turn chicken over, and continue roasting until juices run clear and meat is no longer pink at the bone, 5 to 15 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Preheat the oven's broiler and broil the chicken until skin is crispy and golden, 1 to 3 minutes.

CHICKEN UNDER A BRICK

Steps:

• Rinse the chicken in cold water and pat dry. Rinse and dry the chicken halves again. Combine the thyme, rosemary, garlic, and olive oil in a large zip-top bag or mixing bowl. Add the chicken halves. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 4 hours).
• Heat the oven to 450°F Wrap two bricks in a couple of layers of foil. (If you don't have bricks, use heavy rocks, 2-lb. weights, or another heavy pan weighed down with cans.) Remove the chicken from the refrigerator, let the excess marinade drain off, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set a large cast-iron or other heavy ovenproof pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add just enough oil to lightly film the pan. Put the chicken halves, skin side down, in the pan and immediately put a brick on top of each half. Turn the heat to medium and cook (without moving the chicken) until the skin is a deep golden brown (check with a spatula) and the chicken is cooked about halfway through, 20 to 25 minute Remove the bricks, turn the chicken halves over, and put the pan in the hot oven to finish roasting the chicken until a thermometer registers at least 165°F, another 20 to 25 minute.