Braised chicken with lemon and almonds

This simple Mediterranean-style dish can be prepared in advance and then reheated and revitalised with lemon juice and additional parsley just before serving.  It makes an excellent dinner party dish.

Preparation Time: 20 Mins

Cooking Time: 50 Mins

Total Time: 70 Mins

Ingredients

For 4 servings…

100 gms          Butter       

2                    Onions  - chopped finely         

2 tbs               Coriander  - ground  

1 tbs               Ginger  - ground      

100 gms          Parsley  - chopped    

                     Pepper  - black        

1                    Lemon  - zest of      

1                    Chicken  - jointed into 8 pieces 

60 gms            Raisins      

50 gms            Almonds  - flaked     

To serve

                     Salt          

2 tbs               Lemon juice            

50 gms            Parsley     

Method

Melt the butter in a large casserole and add the onion, spices and parsley with some black pepper.  Cook over a low heat to warm the spices and then add the lemon zest, chicken joints, raisins and almonds.  Turn the meat to coat it with the spicy butter mixture then add enough water to cover.

Bring to simmering point then turn down the heat and cook for 45 minutes or until the chicken is tender.  Remove from the heat.

Just before serving…

Reheat, if the dish has been prepared in advance, and season with salt.  Add the lemon juice and scatter with the extra parsley.

Wine recommendations

A not-too-heavy red wine.

Conventional

     Beaujolais Villages

Interesting

     Côte de Brouilly

     Côtes de Gascogne rouge

     Lirac

     Vin de pays Charentais rouge