Lighteningchicken Recipes

CHICKEN AND LENTILS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the chicken pieces 5 minutes on each side, or until juices run clear. Remove chicken from skillet, and set aside.
• Place onion in the skillet, and cook 5 minutes, until tender. Mix in the carrot and garlic. Stir in the lentils and broth, and season with salt. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes.
• Return chicken to skillet. Cover, and continue cooking 20 minutes. If the mixture becomes too dry, add a little water to just moisten.
• Stir tomato sauce into the skillet. Season with rosemary and basil. Continue cooking 10 minutes, or until lentils are tender. Stir in lemon juice, and serve warm.

DRUNKEN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Sprinkle 2 tablespoons salt on the chicken, making sure to season the inside of the cavity. Leave the chicken at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts of cold water to a boil over medium-high heat in a 7-quart Dutch oven. Add 2 tablespoons salt, the ginger and whole scallion. Slowly lower the chicken into the boiling water with the breast side up. Bring the water back up to a gentle boil.
• Carefully lift the chicken out using the handles of 2 wooden spoons or 2 pairs of chopsticks positioned under the wings; be careful not to tear the skin (do not use tongs as they can easily tear the skin). Lift the chicken just high enough and tilt it so all the water drains from the cavity into the pot; this allows cold water in the cavity to drain and ensures even cooking.
• Lower the chicken back into the water. Bring the water back to a gentle simmer and reduce the heat to low. Cook, covered, until the juices run clear when the chicken is pierced between the leg and thigh, 33 to 35 minutes. Right before the chicken is done, prepare a large bowl of ice water.
• Transfer the chicken to ice water breast-side down; reserve the liquid the chicken poached in. Let the chicken cool for about 10 minutes, flipping it once after about 5 minutes. (The ice bath prevents the chicken from overcooking, but also helps to firm the meat and tighten the skin.) Remove the chicken, letting the excess water drain off.
• Whisk together 2 cups of the reserved poaching liquid, the wine, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until the sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Carve the chicken with a meat cleaver or chef's knife: Start by detaching both leg quarters (leg and thigh together) from the body. Chop the leg quarters through the bone into roughly 3/4-inch pieces. Cut off the wings and drumettes. Split the wing flat lengthwise to expose the meat. Cut the breast bone down the center to separate the two breast halves. Cut each half through the bone into 3/4-inch pieces. Lay the chicken pieces in a 2-quart casserole dish in a single layer.
• Sprinkle the goji berries if using around the chicken. Pour the wine mixture over the chicken making sure it's submerged; add a little more poaching liquid if it's not. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
• Serve cold, taking the chicken pieces out of the marinade and garnishing them with the goji berries and thinly sliced scallions if using.

WHITE LIGHTNING CHICKEN CHILI

Steps:

• Saute onion and garlic in hot oil in large Dutch oven over medium high heat for 5 minutes or until onion is tender.
• Stir in chicken, chicken broth, green chilies and seasoning mix with 2 cans beans.
• Coarsely mash remaining can of beans and add to chicken mixture.
• Bring to boil, stirring often.
• Cover and reduce heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.

LIGHT LEFTOVER CHICKEN LUNCH

Steps:

• Bring water, rice, lentils, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt to a boil in a pot over medium heat. Cover and simmer until rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in soy sauce. Keep covered.
• Microwave peas on high in a microwave-safe bowl until partially thawed, 20 to 30 seconds.
• Microwave chicken on high in a microwave-safe bowl for about 45 seconds. Mix in peas and cinnamon.
• Coat the bottom of a serving dish with 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil. Sprinkle black pepper on top. Fill dish with the lentil-rice mixture, the chicken-pea mixture, and ginger; toss until evenly distributed.