Best Citrus Braised Chicken Thighs Recipes

CITRUS CHICKEN TAGINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Heat a wide braising pan or tagine over medium-high heat.
• In a small bowl, combine the harissa, paprika, turmeric, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, allspice, cardamom, cayenne, orange zest and 2 tablespoons of canola oil. Stir to form a paste.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper; rub half of the spice mixture on both sides of the thighs.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons canola oil to the pan. Sear the chicken skin-side down until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip and brown the other side. Remove to a plate.
• Add the garlic, onion and remaining spice mixture to the same pan, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the onions are softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• Return the chicken to the pan along with the tomatoes, chicken stock, olives, apricots, preserved lemon and sliced oranges and season with salt and pepper, being careful with the salt. Braise in the oven, partially covered, for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Uncover and continue to braise until the chicken is tender, another 15 to 45 minutes. Serve from the pan over couscous, garnishing with sliced Meyer lemon and whole cilantro and mint leaves.

GRILLED CITRUS MARINATED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Season the chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper. In a non-reactive baking dish large enough to hold all the chicken to marinate, whisk together the vegetable oil, citrus zests and juices, cayenne pepper and the thyme. Add the chicken thighs and turn to coat. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to a couple hours in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the grill. Remove the chicken from marinade and let excess drip back into dish. Place chicken on the hot grill, without overcrowding the pieces. Grill until fully cooked through, turning occasionally, about 15 minutes total, depending on how hot your grill is. Serve immediately.

CITRUS-BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Sprinkle salt and pepper over chicken. Cook 4 chicken thighs in 1 Tbsp. hot oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat 6 minutes on each side. Remove chicken; wipe Dutch oven clean. Repeat with remaining 1 Tbsp. oil and 4 chicken thighs. Reserve 1 Tbsp. drippings in Dutch oven. Reduce heat to medium; add carrots, and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Add onions, and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, 1 minute. Stir in orange juice, lemon juice, and cumin. Increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Add chicken and olives. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 35 to 40 minutes or until meat pulls away from bone. Just before serving, stir in parsley, and add salt and pepper to taste.

CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CUMIN, CAYENNE AND CITRUS

Steps:

• Preheat a gas grill, start a wood or charcoal fire or preheat a broiler; the fire should be moderately hot, and the rack should be about 4 inches from the heat source.
• Combine the garlic, onion, oregano, cumin, cayenne, cloves, salt, pepper and oil in a blender or small food processor, and blend until fairly smooth. Add the juices, taste and adjust seasoning; the flavors should be powerful.
• Smear sauce over chicken; if time allows, marinate 30 minutes or so. Grill 6 to 8 minutes a side, or until meat is nicely browned and cooked medium or better on the inside. (Thighs with bones will take longer, about 20 minutes total.) Serve, garnished with the cilantro.

BRAISED ORANGE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook chicken thighs in the hot oil until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Remove chicken thighs and set aside.
• Cook and stir onion in the same skillet until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir in tomatoes, orange juice, orange liqueur, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes until thoroughly combined.
• Return chicken thighs to the skillet, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until chicken is tender and no longer pink inside, 25 to 30 minutes.