Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Braised Balsamic Chicken with Tomatoes and Swiss Chard


We've had a fairly mild winter this year (yay!), so I haven't really been craving all the wintery comfort foods that I typically do.  We've eaten a surprising number of salads and seafood dishes, and overall haven't been eating as many soups, stews, and braises as usual.  However, this meal was definitely one that we thoroughly enjoyed (on a 60 degree day in January, at that).

Chicken thighs are braised in a flavorful liquid of red wine, chicken broth, tomatoes, and thyme.  Anchovies are also used, and while that may seem like a turn-off, I'd definitely discourage you from omitting them.  They give the dish a great depth of flavor.  After the chicken is cooked, the swiss chard is cooked in the braising liquid, and a balsamic reduction is added to the sauce just before serving.

I absolutely loved the combination of flavors going on.  The tomatoes and balsamic vinegar create such a great sauce for the mild Swiss chard and the tender chicken.  It was hearty, comforting, and filling, without being overly rich and heavy.  I served this over Parmesan cheese grits, but I think it would also be great with mashed potatoes, polenta, or rice - really anything to soak up the sauce.




Braised Balsamic Chicken with Swiss Chard and Tomatoes
barely adapted from Cook's Illustrated
  • 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3 pounds), trimmed of excess fat and skin
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbs olive oil
  • 1 large onion , halved and sliced about 1/4 inch thick (about 2 cups)
  • 1 Tbs tomato paste
  • 3cloves garlic , minced 
  • 1 tsp anchovy paste
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes , drained
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/2 Tbs chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 12 oz Swiss chard , washed and dried
  •   3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle both sides of chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering; add chicken thighs skin-side down and cook without moving them until skin is crisped and well browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Using tongs, turn chicken and brown on second side, about 5 minutes longer.  Transfer thighs to large plate.

Pour off all but 1 teaspoon fat from pot. Add the onion and tomato paste and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally and scraping bottom of pot with wooden spoon, until tomato paste begins to darken, about 3-4 minutes (if bottom of pot becomes very dark and sticky, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons water). Add garlic and anchovy and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes, chicken broth, and wine, scraping up browned bits with wooden spoon. Add red pepper flakes, thyme, and bay. Remove and discard skin from chicken thighs, then submerge chicken bone-side up in liquid, adding any chicken juices accumulated on plate. Increase heat to high, bring to simmer, cover, then place pot in oven. Cook until chicken offers no resistance when poked with tip of paring knife but meat still clings to bone, 40 to 55 minutes

While chicken cooks, trim stems from Swiss chard.  Roughly chop the leaves.

 Also while chicken cooks, simmer balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until thick, syrupy, and reduced to 1/3 cup, 3 to 5 minutes (begin measuring volume when vinegar begins to cling to sides of saucepan). Set aside.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer chicken to plate and tent with foil; discard bay leaf. Bring liquid in Dutch oven to simmer over medium-high heat.  Add chard greens and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir about 1/3 cup sauce into balsamic reduction to loosen, then stir the mixture into the sauce.  Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to sauce, cook until heated through, about 2 minutes, turning chicken once or twice. Use a slotted spoon to transfer chard to serving dish or individual bowls; place c
chicken thighs on chard, then spoon sauce over. Serve immediately.

Note:  I halved this recipe with no problems.


8 comments:

Laura said...

I always stock up on good balsamic at Trader Joe's, so I just happen to be swimming in it at the moment. Adding this to the menu soon! It looks absolutely diving over those grits, girl.

Kelsey said...

Oh, how I love this meal. Your pictures are gorgeous!

Bev Weidner (Bev Cooks) said...

Oh.MAH.GAH.YEAH.

Living The Sweet Life said...

Delicious and comforting, all served in a bowl. I must try making those grits as well!! Looks like the perfect winter meal :)

Joanne said...

It's still been soup central over here mostly because I'm always cold, no matter the weather so it's always soup season in my mind. :P I love the idea of this braise though. Balsamic just gets me every time.

Cara said...

I know that my husband would love this dish for the anchovies alone. Thanks!

Maryam said...

Hi there,
I was just wondering what kind of changes I would have to make if I used boneless skinless thighs? This looks delicious!

Josie said...

Maryam, I think you'd have to make quite a few changes, and even then you wouldn't really end up with the same dish. Boneless-skinless cook much quicker, so the 45 minute cook time would be unnecessary, though then you wouldn't get as much flavor from the sauce, etc. B-S chicken thighs cook very quickly, so I just don't think they would work well for this dish.

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