Eat Well, Be Well, Live Well

I first made this dish a few months ago, at the end of a day that had gotten away from me. I knew there were six or so chicken thighs tucked in the meat drawer of the refrigerator, which I had planned to whip up into some Middle Eastern dish. However, I was out of time, and recognized I was short a few ingredients for some of my favorite Ottolenghi dishes.

I’m a big fan of skillet dishes and just about anything braised, so mustering up a last bit of inspiration, I threw this together in about 30 minutes, and we all declared it delicious. Because I love simple, easy to prepare meals, I loved this dish even more for its remarkable flavor given it’s incredible simplicity.

We ate ours with a simple side salad, but you could also serve it over mashed potato, mashed cauliflower, rice or a little pasta.

Ingredients

6 chicken thighs, bone in and skin on (about 2 lbs)

1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced

1 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried basil

1 14-oz can diced tomatoes

1 14-oz can artichoke hearts

1-2 tbsp capers plus a little juice

sea salt

fresh-ground pepper

1-2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped, optional

Preparation

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Dry the chicken thighs with a paper towel, season liberally with salt and pepper, and set skin side down in the skillet. Brown on both sides, about 6-8 minutes total. Use tongs to remove the thighs onto a plate or bowl. Set aside.

Drain the chicken fat into a small bowl (never pour down your drain!). Add in the olive oil and onion and cook, stirring frequently, under the onion softens and begins to color. Add in the spices and garlic, and cook 2-3 minutes more. Return the chicken thighs to the pan, skin side up. Add in the tomatoes, artichoke hearts, capers and caper juice and stir a little to combine (without covering the chicken). Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes until the chicken thighs are cooked through and the tomatoes and onion have started to break down.

If you eat chicken skin, as I do, and you like yours super crispy, as I do, you can place the skillet uncovered under the broiler for a few minutes just before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired, and a few grinds of fresh pepper.

Happy eating!