Hot Pepper Chicken Under A Brick With An Orange And Poppy Seed Dressed Salad Recipes

POPPY SEED-CHICKEN PITAS

Steps:

• Cover the chicken with cold water in a saucepan and add 1 teaspoon salt. Remove strips of zest from half of the orange with a vegetable peeler; add the zest to the water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 18 minutes. Remove the chicken and let cool.
• Grate the remaining orange zest into a large bowl; juice the orange into the bowl. Stir in the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, celery, nuts, chives, poppy seeds, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Add the apricots, if desired.
• Shred the chicken, discarding the bones and skin, and toss with the dressing. Stuff a few lettuce leaves and some of the chicken salad into each pita.

PAN BRAISED CHICKEN AND HOT CHERRY PEPPERS

Steps:

• Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper and the dry oregano. In a large straight-sided saute pan or chicken fryer heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken to the hot oil and brown all sides well. While the chicken is cooking drain the peppers, cut them into quarters, and discard the stem and seeds. In a separate saucepan heat the broth and keep warm. Drain, carefully, all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the chicken and add the onions. Cook the onions to golden brown. Add the peppers to the onions and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes over medium heat. Add the broth and tomato and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cover the pan. Braise the chicken, onions and peppers for 25 to 30 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. Just before serving, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil, add 1 tablespoon of salt, and cook the noodles until tender. Drain the noodles, toss with butter and place on a large platter. Serve the chicken over the noodles and sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the top.;

POUSSIN "SOTTO MATTONE" OR BABY CHICKEN COOKED UNDER A BRICK

Steps:

• To marinate poussin, first slice lemon into rings and place on cookie sheet. In 475 degree oven, or preferably, wood roasting oven, char lemon until very fragrant. Allow lemon to cool and toss with thyme, olive oil and poussin. Marinate at least 2 hours. Prepare eggplant and figs by cutting each in half, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill eggplant and figs and keep warm. Lay poussin skin side down on grill. Place brick atop poussin and grill 3 to 4 minutes. Remove brick, rotate poussin 90 degrees and grill 3 more minutes under brick. Finally flip over poussin and grill 2 minutes without the brick. Assemble on large platter with grilled eggplant and figs. Drizzle dish with fruity olive oil and fresh herbs.

CRISPY CHICKEN UNDER A BRICK

Steps:

• Remove the backbone and split the chicken in half. Mix together 1/2-cup olive oil, orange juice and zest, cumin, curry, brown sugar, garlic and parsley. Marinate the chicken in the mixture for 1 hour, covered in the refrigerator.
• Place an ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes. Put the remaining 1/4-cup olive oil into the hot skillet and wait 1 minute for it to heat up.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade, season all over with salt and pepper. Place the chicken halves in the skillet, skin side down. Wrap 2 bricks in aluminum foil and set them on top of the chicken. The weight will flatten the chicken resulting in a very crispy skin.
• Cook on the stovetop for 10 minutes, then transfer the weighted skillet to a preheated 450 degrees F oven. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes. Use a thin metal spatula to pry the chicken from the pan so not to tear the skin.

BRICK CHICKEN WITH VINEGAR PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F with a rack in center. Season all sides of chicken generously with salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium; add butter and 1 tablespoon oil.
• When butter melts and foam subsides, add chicken, skin-side down. Place a piece of foil on top of chicken and top with a second heavy skillet to weigh down. Cook, undisturbed, until skin forms a golden-brown crust, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove top skillet and foil. Transfer chicken to a plate, skin-side up.
• Discard fat in skillet. Return to medium-high heat and add remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add peppers and onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are browned in places, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in broth, vinegar, sugar, capers, and rosemary; season with salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil, then transfer to a 9-by-13-inch roasting pan or baking dish along with chicken, skin-side up, and any accumulated juices.
• Roast until a thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken reads 160°, about 20 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and loosely tent with foil. Return vegetables to oven; cook until sauce has reduced slightly, about 10 minutes more. Season. Serve chicken with vegetables and polenta, spooning juices over top.

CHICKEN POPPY SEED SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine limeade concentrate and pepper; add the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours., Drain and discard marinade. In a large skillet, saute chicken in oil until no longer pink., Meanwhile, in a blender, combine the vinegar, sugar, onion, mustard and salt. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Stir in poppy seeds., In a large serving bowl, toss spinach with strawberries, peas, onion, chicken and 1/2 cup dressing. Sprinkle with pecans. Refrigerate leftover dressing.