This week's Garnish & Gather meal featured chicken thighs. I was hesitant. Historically I've been more of a white meat girl. Since confessing my love for Top Chef, I'm embarrassed to admit this. Tom Colicchio regularly touts the superiority of dark meat, but I just wasn't there.
Chef Amy Ponzoli changed my mind. Maybe it was the cherry gastrique, or maybe it was the wine, I'm not sure, but for the first time I saw what all the hype was about. The meat was flavorful and cooked perfectly! The flavor combination of the sweet and tart cherry gastrique and the chicken thighs was heaven.
You Will Need
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs chicken thighs
- 1 cup butternut squash
- 1 cup potatoes
- 3/4 cup turnips
- 3 tsp fennel seed
- 1/2 tbsp dried marjoram
- 1/4 cup dried cherries
- 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 3 tbsp oil (I used evoo)
- 1 cup red wine (I used The Seeker Red Blend)
- 1 tbsp butter
- salt & pepper
Equipment:
- roasting pan (I used a cookie sheet)
- small sauce pot (I used a small frying pan)
- med ovenproof saute pan (I used a Le Creuset skillet)
Preheat Oven & Prep Veggies
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Dice potato, turnip and butternut squash
- In a roasting pan, mix potato, turnip, and butternut squash with 2 tbsp oil, fennel seed, dried marjoram
- Cook 15-20 min until veggies are tender
Cook Gastrique
- In a small sauce pot combine cherries, 1 cup red wine, balsamic vinegar, honey, and dried thyme - bring to a boil
- Reduce heat to simmer and cook 15-20 min, until it reaches the consistency of maple syrup
- Remove from heat and stir in butter and salt & pepper
Prep and Cook Chicken
- In a medium ovenproof saute pan, heat 1 tbsp oil
- Season chicken with salt & pepper on both sides
- Add to pan and cook 2-3 minutes per side
- Transfer pan to oven and cook 8-10 minutes, until cooked through
Plate Meal & Enjoy
- Scoop veggies onto plate and top with chicken thighs. Drizzle with cherry gastrique.
Dessert from A Little Tart Bakeshop
For those of you who do not know, Garnish & Gather is a weekly meal deliver service based here in Atlanta. They source local organic ingredients and use recipes from local chefs. Most of the prep work is already done, so it's a very easy way to have a gourmet meal in your home.