Seared Lemon Chicken Recipes

PAN SEARED CHICKEN WITH TENDER LEEK, LEMON RICE PILAF, AND WHATEVER YOUR GARDEN GROWS SALAD

Steps:

• Trim leeks of tough green ends and roots. Split leeks lengthwise, then cut across into 1/2-inch slices. Place sandy slices of leeks into a large bowl filled with cold water. Separating the layers of each slice to free the grains of sand. Allow the sand to settle to the bottom of the bowl. With your hands, gently lift the leeks out of the water leaving the sand and dirt behind. Place the leeks within arm's reach of the stovetop.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Add olive oil to skillet to coat the pan, then add chicken breasts. Brown chicken breasts 3 to 4 minutes on each side, then transfer to a plate.
• Add a little more oil to the pan, then pour in leeks. Saute leeks 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add 1 cup wine to the pan and nestle chicken breasts down into leeks. Reduce heat to simmer and cook chicken 5 to 7 minutes longer.
• To serve, remove chicken from pan and slice on an angle. Fan and arrange sliced chicken breasts over a bed of Sauteed leeks on each dinner plate or a warm serving platter. Serve with rice and salad.
• Pilaf: heat a medium saucepan or pot over moderate heat. Add oil and butter and shallots to the pan. Saute shallots 2 minutes, then add 1 1/2 cups rice. Lightly brown rice 3 to 5 minutes. Add wine and allow it to evaporate entirely, 1 to 2 minutes. Add thyme and chicken broth to the rice. Fill broth can half-again with water or, measure 1 cup water and add to pot. Bring liquid to a boil. Cover rice and reduce heat. Cook rice 20 minutes, until tender.
• Stir the zest of 1 lemon and parsley into rice. Transfer lemon rice to dinner plates or warm serving dish and garnish with toasted slivered almonds.
• Heat 3-inches of water in a deep skillet and heat to a boil. Add trimmed wax and green beans and julienne sliced yellow squash to the pot. Simmering vegetables in water for 2 minutes, add red peppers and simmer 1 minute longer. You want the vegetables to remain full of color and bite. Drain vegetables and cold-shock under running water in your colander.
• Place drained vegetables in a serving dish and combine with sliced scallions and shredded dark garden greens, such as spinach or arugula.
• Whisk together mustard, vinegar, and lemon juice. Add olive oil in a slow stream while whisking to get a nice emulsion of your dressing. Add herbs and pour dressing over the salad. Toss salad to combine flavors and coat your vegetables evenly.

SEARED HERB-MARINATED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place scallions, cilantro, garlic, jalapeño, fish sauce, honey, lime juice and 2 tablespoons oil in a blender. Purée until smooth.
• Scrape marinade into a large bowl or resealable plastic bag. Add chicken, tossing to coat, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Use tongs to remove chicken from marinade, letting any excess drip away. Do not pat dry.
• Place chicken in skillet skin-side down and sear until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes (2 to 3 minutes if using skinless chicken), being careful not to let it burn as the sugars from the honey will start to caramelize.
• Flip chicken, transfer to oven, and continue to cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with more cilantro, limes wedges and green papaya salad if you like.

LEMON-ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Rinse chicken thoroughly with cold water, empty the cavity, and pat chicken dry with paper towels.
• Place chicken, breast-side down, into a roasting pan. Squeeze juice from 1 1/2 lemons over chicken.
• Mix salt and pepper together in a small bowl and spread mixture all over chicken using your hands.
• Roll 2 lemons on the countertop to soften them a bit. Puncture several times with a fork and cram into the cavity of the chicken.
• Place roasting pan in the preheated oven and lower temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Pull out chicken and turn over using wooden spoons or tongs. Return to the oven and continue to bake until no longer pink in the center and juices run clear when the thigh is pricked with a fork, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Let chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving. Cut remaining lemon into slices. Transfer chicken to a serving dish and garnish with lemon slices and fresh rosemary. Pour juices from the roasting pan over the chicken to make it super juicy.

ROASTED LEMON BALM CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Set aside 1/3 of the whole lemon balm leaves and 1/3 of the whole sage leaves. Chop the remaining lemon balm and sage. Place the chopped herbs into a mixing bowl with the butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir until evenly mixed. Loosen the skin of the chicken, and rub the butter mixture underneath the skin, over the breast and legs. Rub the skin of the chicken with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place the reserved herbs into the cavity of the chicken, and place breast-side-down onto a roasting pan.
• Roast in the preheated oven 30 minutes, then turn chicken breast-side-up, and continue baking until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove the chicken from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

SEARED LEMON CHICKEN WITH GARLIC, HONEY & BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Place the chicken breasts side by side in a shallow dish. Mix together the lemon juice, garlic, honey, balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil & 1 tbsp chopped parsley and pour over the chicken. Turn the breasts over until well coated. Leave in the fridge to marinate for 30 minutes.
• Brush a non stick griddle pan with the remaining oil and heat until very hot. Lift the chicken breasts from the dish (reserve the marinade) and add them to the pan.
• Sear quickly for 1-2 minutes on each side until the chicken browns, lower the heat and cook for about 10 minutes or until the chicken is done, turning the breasts over once or twice.
• Pour the reserved marinade over the chicken, remove from the pan and arrange on serving plates. Grate over the lemon zest and scatter with the rest of the parsley. Cut the lemon into wedges and serve with the chicken.

SEARED LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the chicken breasts side by side in a shallow dish (non reactive, not metal).
• Mix together the lemon juice, garlic, honey, balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon chopped parsley and pour over the chicken.
• Turn the breasts over until well coated and the marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes.
• Brush a non stick griddle or skillet/fry pan with the remaining oil and heat until very hot.
• Lift the chicken breasts from the dish (reserve the marinade) and and put them in the pan/griddle and sear quickly for 1 to 2 minutes on each side until the chicken browns, lower the heat and add the reserved marinade cook for about 10 minutes or until the chicken is done, turning the breasts once or twice.
• Once cooked transfer to serving plate and cover each with an equal amount of the zest and the remaining parsley.
• Cut the lemon into wedges and serve with the chicken.
• Suggested you accompany with rice and steam vegetables.