Tangy Pomegranate Chicken Legs Stuffed With Herbed Rice Recipes

SPICY ROASTED CHICKEN LEGS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line baking sheets with foil.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the lemon juice, salt, black pepper, cayenne and garlic, and stir. Set aside.
• Rinse and pat the chicken legs dry. With metal tongs, dip them one by one into the butter mixture and place on the prepared baking sheets.
• Once all of the chicken legs are coated and on the baking sheet, take a pastry brush and give them one last coating of the butter mixture.
• Place them into the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, basting a couple of times during roasting. If they need a bit more color, turn on the broiler for a couple minutes and watch them closely.
• Remove them when they are nice and golden brown and fully cooked.

GLAZED CORNISH HENS WITH POMEGRANATE-RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Mix the cinnamon, 4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a bowl; sprinkle all over the hens and inside the cavities. Place the hens on a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, at least 2 hours or overnight. Meanwhile, soak the grape leaves in water 1 hour.
• Bring the chicken broth and 2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan; add the rice blend and cook as the label directs. Drain and rinse under cold water.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallot, garlic, ginger and cumin and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat; add the cooked rice, pomegranate seeds, and chopped parsley and cilantro; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Add the egg yolks and stir to combine.
• Make the glaze: Bring the orange juice and pomegranate molasses to a boil in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
• Fill the cavity of each hen with about 1/2 cup of the rice mixture (reserve the rest); tie the legs together with twine. Roast 20 minutes, then brush with the pomegranate glaze. Continue roasting, glazing every 10 minutes, until a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees F to 170 degrees F, 1 hour to 1 hour, 10 minutes. (Rotate the hens halfway through cooking; if the skin gets too dark, cover loosely with foil.)
• Meanwhile, drain the grape leaves and pat dry. Use some of the leaves to line a 9-inch pie dish. Fill with the reserved rice mixture and drizzle with 2 tablespoons water. Cover with the remaining grape leaves, shiny side up, then cover with foil. (If you aren't using grape leaves, spoon the rice into a pie dish, sprinkle with water and cover with foil.) After the hens have roasted about 20 minutes, transfer the rice to the oven and cook until heated through, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer the hens to a platter and add some parsley and cilantro sprigs and pomegranate seeds. Peel the grape leaves off the top of the rice and serve alongside the hens.

TANGY POMEGRANATE CHICKEN LEGS STUFFED WITH HERBED RICE

Steps:

• De-bone the chicken legs. To do this: with a sharp knife, cut around the skin and cartilage around the base of the knee joint. Slice upwards along the bone to the opposite end. Carefully separate the meat from the bone. You should end up with a butterflied (flat) piece of meat.
• Place a layer of plastic wrap over the chicken, and pound until slightly flattened.
• Prepare the marinade: Place the pomegranate syrup, honey, vinegar, paprika, onion powder, spices and salt/pepper into a bowl and mix well. Pour over the chicken in a plasic bag or other container. Allow to marinate a couple hours-overnight.
• Meanwhile, prepare the stuffing. In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil and cook the onions over medium heat. Add the sesame seeds (if using) and pine nuts. Toast for several more minutes. Add the scallions and spinach, heat thoroughly.
• Finally, add the dried herbs and a splash of water, cook for several more minutes. Mix in the cooked rice and allow to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Spread the chicken meat out, skin-side down. In the center, add several spoonfuls of the stuffing mixture (it should be around ½ cup, whatever can fit).
• Fold the chicken up around the stuffing and secure with toothpicks. Arrange on a lightly oiled baking dish, seal-side down. Pour the remaining marinade over the mixture.
• Basting occasionally, bake for approximately 30-40 minutes (time may vary), or until browned and no longer pink inside.

POMEGRANATE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Stir pomegranate juice, brown sugar, vinegar, and garlic together in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is reduced to 3/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and discard garlic, then stir in lime juice and let cool 5 minutes. Set aside 6 tablespoons pomegranate syrup.
• Poke several holes in lime with a fork and insert into chicken cavity along with onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt, bay leaf, pepper, and rosemary. Tie legs together with kitchen string, sprinkle skin with remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, then transfer chicken, breast side up, to a roasting pan.
• Roast chicken, basting with pomegranate syrup every 20 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest parts of all pieces registers 165 degrees F, about 1 hour total. Let chicken rest 10 minutes before carving. Serve drizzled with reserved pomegranate syrup.

HERBED CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute chicken in butter for 3-4 minutes. Add the carrots and onion; saute until tender. , Add water and seasonings; bring to a boil. Stir in the rice. Cover and remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Garnish with walnuts.

TANGY CHICKEN LEGS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the first six ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Brush over cooked chicken.

POMEGRANATE CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a roasting pan with on top of a foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Rinse chicken under running water and pat dry. If desired, lightly salt and pepper to taste. Go lightly on the salt due to the soy sauce in the glaze. Arrange chicken on foil and place in preheated oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
• While the chicken is baking place the Pomegranate juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce by about half. Add remaining ingredients and cook a few minutes to thicken.
• Preheat grill to 350 degrees. Remove precooked chicken from oven and baste with glaze. Grill until cooked through and glazed, basting and turning every 3 to 5 minutes. The chicken should be cooked through in about 15 to 20 minutes. Watch carefully so as not burn the glaze.

CHICKEN LEGS STUFFED WITH WILD RICE AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken legs. Sprinkle them inside and out with salt and pepper, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, cook the wild rice and drain.
• Heat the butter in a skillet and add the onions and shallots. Cook, stirring, until they are wilted. Add the mushrooms and cook about one minute, stirring. Add the wild rice, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with Cognac and stir. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Stuff each chicken leg with an equal portion of the filling. Carefully fold over the boned thighs to enclose the filling.
• Lay out four squares of plastic wrap, one at a time. Place one stuffed leg in the center and carefully fold the plastic wrap to enclose the stuffed pieces. Wrap securely.
• Place the stuffed chicken legs in one layer in the top rack of a steamer. Set aside. Bring enough water to the boil in the bottom of the steamer to steam the chicken legs when added.
• When ready to cook, place the chicken legs over the steamer and cover closely. Let the legs steam for about 20 minutes or until done. Serve with cream of chicken sauce. One serving suggestion: Spoon a little of the sauce onto a hot plate, top with the stuffed leg and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

BAKED MUSTARD-HERB CHICKEN LEGS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Trim excess skin and fat from chicken. Combine bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, tarragon and salt and pepper on a plate or waxed paper. Use a pastry brush to paint mustard lightly on chicken legs. Carefully coat chicken legs with bread crumb mixture.
• Gently place chicken in a roasting pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until completely cooked. Serve hot or cold.

GRILLED CHICKEN LEGS WITH POMEGRANATE MOLASSES

Steps:

• Preheat grill.
• In a shallow dish, mix chicken with l/2 cup virgin olive oil, honey, vinegar and paprika, and allow to marinate overnight in refrigerator or 3 hours at room temperature.
• Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and place on grill.
• Grill 12-13 minutes per side, or until juices run clear when pierced with a fork or knife.
• Remove cooked chicken from grill and drizzle with pomegranate molasses.
• Serve immediately.