Chicken with Port and Figs
- 8 dried figs, tough stems removed
- 1 cup water
- 2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon port
- 2 3-inch-long strips lemon zest
- 1 chicken (3 to 3 1/2 pounds), quartered
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt
- Fresh-ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter, cut into four pieces
- Heat the oven to 375.
- Pierce each fig three or four times with a paring knife.
- In a small stainless-steel saucepan, combine the figs, water, the 2/3 cup port, and the lemon zest.
- Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, until tender, about 30 minutes.
- Discard the zest and reserve the poaching liquid.
- Cut the figs in half.
- Meanwhile, coat the chicken with the oil and arrange the pieces, skin-side up, in a large roasting pan.
- Sprinkle the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon port and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
- Top each piece of chicken with a piece of the butter.
- Cook until the breasts are just done, about 30 minutes.
- Remove the breasts and continue to cook the legs until done, about 5 minutes longer.
- Remove the roasting pan from the oven; return the breasts to the pan.
- Heat the broiler.
- Broil the chicken until the skin is golden brown, about 2 minutes.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Pour off the fat from the roasting pan.
- Set the pan over moderate heat and add the fig-poaching liquid.
- Bring to a boil, scraping the bottom of the pan to dislodge any brown bits.
- Boil until reduced to approximately 1/4 cup, about 4 minutes.
- Add the figs, any accumulated juices from the chicken, and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
- Spoon the sauce over the chicken.
water, port, chicken, olive oil, salt, freshground black pepper, butter
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chicken-port-and-figs (may not work)