Description
Balsamic chicken with figs and red onion brings Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table. Juicy chicken thighs caramelize with sweet figs and tangy balsamic, creating a luxurious meal that transports you to Italian countryside kitchens.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 6 chicken thighs, bone in, skin on
Fruits and Vegetables:
- 2 cups shredded curly kale
- 5 figs, cut into halves or quarters depending on size
- 2 medium red onions, thinly sliced
- 3 shallots, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) balsamic vinegar
- 0.5 tablespoon (7.5 milliliters) dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) honey
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating it to 175 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit), ensuring an even cooking environment.
- Select a large cast iron skillet or oven-safe pan and warm olive oil over medium heat to create an ideal searing surface.
- Generously coat chicken thighs with salt and pepper, ensuring thorough seasoning on both surfaces for maximum flavor penetration.
- Sear the seasoned chicken thighs for approximately 4 minutes per side, developing a rich golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture.
- Remove chicken from the pan and set aside while preparing the flavor-enhancing sauce.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine Dijon mustard, honey, and balsamic vinegar, whisking until the mixture reaches a smooth, glossy consistency.
- Return the pan to heat and sauté finely diced shallots and minced garlic, allowing them to soften and release their aromatic essence for about 4 minutes.
- Introduce sliced red onions and fresh thyme to the pan, continuing to cook and develop deep, complex flavors for an additional 3 minutes.
- Pour in the prepared balsamic mixture and chicken stock, creating a rich, fragrant liquid base that will infuse the dish with depth.
- Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even flavor distribution.
- Fold in chopped kale, integrating the leafy greens into the sauce and adding nutritional value to the dish.
- Carefully return the seared chicken thighs to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce and artfully arranging fig pieces around the meat.
- Drizzle additional sauce over the chicken, ensuring each piece is generously coated with the flavorful liquid.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake uncovered for approximately 35 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 75 degrees Celsius (165 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Remove from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped thyme leaves, adding a final aromatic touch before serving the dish warm.
Notes
- Elevate your weeknight dinner with a symphony of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors that dance together in this rustic one-pan chicken masterpiece.
- Balsamic vinegar transforms ordinary chicken thighs into a gourmet experience, infusing each bite with rich, complex undertones.
- Ripe figs add unexpected sweetness, perfectly balancing the acidic notes of balsamic and creating a gorgeous depth of flavor.
- Cast iron skillet cooking ensures beautiful caramelization and helps develop a deeply golden, crispy chicken skin that’s irresistibly delicious.
- Fresh thyme provides an aromatic herb element that ties all ingredients together, offering a delicate earthy background to the robust main components.
- Kale introduces a nutritious green element, absorbing the delectable pan sauce and adding wonderful textural contrast to the tender chicken.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg