Chicken & Rice with Leeks & Salsa Verde

I have a few quick weeknight meals to share- perfect for the busy holiday season. I was drawn to this dish because I had several beautiful leeks from my CSA share. I served it with roasted broccoli and Brussels sprouts on the side.

This recipe was adapted from Bon Appétit, contributed by Deb Perelman. I have saved a million fresh sauce recipes to make someday but, regretfully, seldom make one. The salsa verde added so much to this classic comfort food dish!

Because the original recipe incorporated a lot of rice, I ultimately made a second batch of chicken and sauce to serve with the leftovers. Next time, I would double the chicken (to 3 pounds) and the sauce (2 cups of herbs) from the start. The recipe below is updated for this change.

Yield: Serves 4 (1 1/2 pounds chicken) or 8 (2 1/2 to 3 pounds of chicken)

For the Chicken & Rice:

• 1 1/2 lbs to 3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3 T unsalted butter, divided
• 2 to 3 large leeks, white and pale green parts only, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced
• zest and juice of 1 lemon, divided
• 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice, rinsed until water runs clear (I used Basmati rice)
• 2 cups chicken stock with 3/4 cups water (or 2 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth)

For the Salsa Verde: (make 1/2 recipe below for 1 1/2 pounds chicken)

• 2 oil-packed anchovy fillets
• 4 large garlic cloves
• 2 T drained capers
• crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 cups tender herb leaves (such as parsley, cilantro, basil and/or mint)
• 8 T extra-virgin olive oil

1. Pat the chicken thighs with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. Season with salt and pepper. (My chicken thighs were very large, so I cut them in half crosswise.)
2. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. (I used a large, low and wide enameled cast iron pot with a glass lid.)
3. Add leeks and half of lemon zest, season with salt and pepper, and mix to coat leeks in butter. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are somewhat tender, about 5 minutes.
4. Remove lid, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and just starting to take on color, about 3 minutes.
5. Add rice and cook, stirring often, 3 minutes, then add broth, scraping up any browned bits.
6. Nestle the chicken thighs (“skin side up”) into rice mixture. Bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through, about 25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Remove from heat.
7. Cut remaining 1 tablespoon of butter into small pieces and scatter over mixture. Re-cover and let sit 10 minutes.
8. While the chicken and rice is resting, make the salsa verde. Pulse anchovies, garlic, capers, a few pinches of red pepper flakes, and remaining lemon zest in a food processor until finely chopped.
9. Add herbs; process until a paste forms.
10. With motor running, gradually stream in oil until loosened to a thick sauce.
11. Add half of lemon juice; season salsa verde with salt to taste.
12. Drizzle remaining lemon juice over chicken and rice. Serve drizzled with salsa verde.

Poblano Chicken Chili

My husband would like to eat chili every week in the winter, so I enjoy trying different versions. I was immediately drawn to this recipe because it incorporates poblano chilies, my favorite. I loved the salsa verde shortcut as well. It would be perfect for a Super Bowl feast.

This recipe was adapted from True Comfort: More Than 100 Cozy Recipes Free of Gluten and Refined Sugar by Kristin Cavallari, via Good Morning America.com. I modified the method and proportions. I also topped the chili with crème fraîche instead of cashew crema because poblanos and crème fraîche are one of our ultimate flavor combinations. It offset the heat perfectly. Directions for the cashew crema are included below for a dairy-free version.

Yield: Serves 8

• 1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
• 2 to 2 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (8 to 10 chicken thighs)
• 2 poblano chiles, seeds removed, chopped
• 1 large white or yellow onion, chopped
• 1 jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed, diced
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• coarse salt or pink Himalayan salt
• 2 (4-ounce) cans chopped green chiles
• 12 oz jarred salsa verde (I used Trader Joe’s)
• 2 (19-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups chicken stock
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 avocado, diced or sliced, for garnish
• crème fraîche, sour cream, or cashew crema (recipe below), for garnish
• thinly sliced scallions, for garnish, optional
• cilantro, for garnish, optional

1. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven set over medium to medium-high heat.
2. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the chicken pieces are browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Add the poblanos, onion, and jalapeño, season with salt and pepper, and continue cooking until the onion has softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the garlic, cumin, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, pepper, onion powder and a big pinch of salt. Stir, and cook for 5 minutes, until fragrant.
5. Reduce the heat to low and add the canned green chiles, salsa verde, and cannellini beans; cook for 5 minutes, stirring it occasionally to bring the flavors together.
6. Bring the heat back up to medium and add the chicken stock. Bring the chili to a simmer, reduce the heat, and let it cook, occasionally stirring it from the bottom to prevent burning, for about 1 hour, or more, until desired thickness is achieved.
7. Just before serving, add lime juice; stir to incorporate. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, as needed.
8. Garnish each bowl of chili with avocado and a dollop of crème fraîche, sour cream or cashew crema (recipe below). Top with a sprinkle of sliced scallions and/or minced cilantro, as desired.

For the Cashew Crema:

1. Place 1 cup of raw cashews in a high-powered blender and add half a cup of water.
2. Blend on high speed until the crema is completely smooth, 2 minutes.

Note: The crema will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Chipotle-Rubbed Chicken Sheet-Pan Dinner with Roasted Salsa Verde & Acorn Squash

I am such a sauce person! This roasted tomatillo and garlic sauce was absolutely incredible. The acorn squash is roasted on the sheet pan with the chicken and sauce ingredients, absorbing all of the flavors too. It would be a wonderful dish to serve as part of a Cinco de Mayo celebration. In fact, I might make it again on Cinco de Mayo! 🙂

This recipe was adapted from Bon Appetit, contributed by Claire Saffitz. I used boneless, skinless thighs instead of bone-in, and adjusted the method and roasting times accordingly.

I’m bringing this delicious dish to share at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #221 this week, hosted by Jenny @ Dragonfly Home Recipes. Enjoy!

Yield: Serves 4 to 5

• 12 oz tomatillos (about 6 medium)
• 8 garlic cloves
• 4 scallions
• 1 jalapeño
• 6 T extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• coarse salt
• 10 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 3 lbs), trimmed
• 2 T adobo sauce, from 1 can chipotles in adobo
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp ground cumin, divided
• 1 medium acorn squash
• ½ bunch cilantro, divided
• lime wedges, for serving
• brown Basmati rice, for serving

1. Place a rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 425°, preferably on convection roast.
2. Start by assembling all the ingredients for the salsa: Remove husks from the tomatillos and rinse. Cut any larger ones in half and arrange on a baking sheet.
3. Smash the garlic cloves with the flat side of your knife and remove skins. Add to baking sheet with tomatillos.
4. Trim ends of scallions and discard, then cut scallions crosswise into 1-inch pieces. Add to baking sheet.
5. Cut the jalapeño in half lengthwise, pull out stem and ribs, and place on baking sheet. Wash hands!
6. Drizzle 2 T oil over vegetables; season with salt. Toss with hands to coat, then push vegetables to one side of baking sheet so they’re taking up about one-third of sheet; set aside.
7. Cut the acorn squash in half and scoop out seeds with spoon. Cut each half in quarters again to make 8 equal wedges.
8. Arrange squash on baking sheet on the opposite side of the baking sheet from the tomatillos (leaving room in the center for the chicken). (I placed each slice on its side so that it could absorb more pan drippings.)
9. Drizzle squash with 2 T oil. Season with salt and sprinkle with remaining ½ tsp cumin.
10. Place baking sheet with tomatillo mixture and acorn squash in the preheated oven for 12 minutes while you prepare the chicken.
11. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season all over with salt.
12. Whisk 2 T adobo sauce (from 1 can chipotles in adobo), 1 tsp honey, ½ tsp cumin, and 2 T oil in a large bowl until smooth.
13. Add chicken to bowl and toss with tongs until coated.
14. After the vegetables have par-baked for 12 minutes, arrange chicken, using tongs, in the center of the baking sheet.
15. Roast until chicken thighs are browned on top and meat is cooked through (165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer), tomatillos are lightly charred on top, and squash is fork-tender about 20 additional minutes.
16. Let cool slightly. While chicken is cooling, pick about ½ cup cilantro leaves from bunch, reserving stems, and set aside for serving.
17. Transfer chicken and squash to a platter.
18. Tip all remaining ingredients, along with ½ cup of pan juices, into a blender. (I used a Vitamix.) Add cilantro, stems and all; season with a bit more salt. Blend, thinning with more pan juices if needed, until smooth and pourable.
19. Spoon salsa over platter and top with reserved cilantro leaves.
20. Serve with brown Basmati rice and lime wedges alongside.

One Year Ago: Roasted Chicken Thighs over Herbed Pea & Spinach Puree

Two Years Ago: North African Meatballs

Four Years Ago:

• Creamy Poblano & Ancho Chicken Tacos: Mix & Match Fillings
• Rick Bayless’ Red Mole Enchiladas with Shredded Chicken

Five Years Ago:

• No-Bake Vegetarian Enchiladas with Smoky Tomatillo Salsa
• Creamy Chicken & Greens with Roasted Poblano Tacos
• Tacos with Tangy Cilantro Chicken
• Rick Bayless’ Swiss Chard Tacos with Caramelized Onion, Fresh Cheese, & Red Chile

Grilled Swordfish with Za’atar Salsa Verde

I love a fresh herb sauce. This Middle Eastern variation on a classic salsa verde brightened up the grilled fish. We ate it over brown Basmati rice with sautéed collard greens and green kale on the side.

This dish was adapted from Bon Appetit, contributed by Alon Shaya. I used homemade za’atar. I also used swordfish in lieu of red snapper, grilling instead of broiling, and modified the proportions in the salsa verde. Healthy and tasty. 🙂

Yield: Serves 2

• 1 tablespoon pine nuts
• 2 6-ounce swordfish steaks, patted dry
• coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• ⅓ cup loosely packed cilantro, finely chopped
• ⅓ cup loosely packed parsley, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely grated or chopped
• 3/4 teaspoons za’atar
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1. Toast pine nuts in a 400 degree oven (I used a toaster oven.) or a dry small skillet over medium-low heat, tossing often, until golden and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Let cool. Coarsely chop, if desired.
2. Heat a gas grill or broiler. Season fish with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with coriander.
3. Drizzle 1 T oil onto one side of the fish, flip and repeat on the opposite side. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Grill fish until cooked through, about 3-4 min per side for a 1″ thick steak. (Alternatively, place fish on a small rimmed baking sheet and broil until cooked through, about 8–10 minutes.)
5. Meanwhile, mix together cilantro, parsley, garlic, za’atar, red pepper flakes, and remaining 4 T olive oil in a mini food processor or small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Stir lemon juice and pine nuts into salsa verde and spoon over fish.

 One Year Ago:

• German Potato Salad with Dill

Two Years Ago:

• Broiled Salmon with Asparagus & Shiitake Mushrooms

Three Years Ago:

• Seared Pork Chops with Garlic Scape Chimichurri

Four Years Ago:

• Spicy Roasted Shrimp and Broccoli Rabe
• White Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits

Greens & Chayote Enchiladas with Salsa Verde

These wonderful, vegetarian, no-bake enchiladas claimed to be light and satisfying- a pretty accurate description! Perfect warm weather Mexican fare. Fresh and fabulous. 🙂 This recipe was adapted from the New York Times, contributed by Martha Rose Shulman.

Inspired by my food blog friends who have made their own birthday cakes, etc., I made this dish for my own birthday dinner!! I prepared the filling a day in advance (no work on the big day!) and we ate them after a relaxing day in the sunshine. My husband made my favorite Huevos Rancheros for breakfast (I am obviously a Mexican-food lover), and I was greeted with a surprise birthday cake from my girlfriend when I got home! ❤ What a great day! Maybe getting older isn’t so awful….

I’m bringing my special dish to share at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #74 (belatedly, again…), co-hosted by Loretta @Safari of the Mind and Caroline @Caroline’s Cooking. As another surprise birthday gift, my dish from Fiesta Friday #73 was featured this week! Yay!! Check it out & Enjoy! 🙂

Yield: Serves 8

• 1 pound Swiss or rainbow chard, or a combination
  
• 2 medium-size chayote or summer squash (about 1 1/4 pounds), cut in small dice (4 cups diced)
  
• 1 pound fresh tomatillos, husked and rinsed
  
• 2 jalapeño or 2 to 3 serrano chiles, stemmed
  
• ½ white onion, coarsely chopped
  
• coarse salt to taste
  
• 4 large peeled garlic cloves; 2 whole and 2 minced
  
• 12 cilantro sprigs, plus chopped cilantro for garnish
  
• 1 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil
  
• 2 ½ cups chicken or vegetable stock
  
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
  
• freshly ground black pepper
  
• 18 corn tortillas
  
• About 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta

1. Peel and dice the chayote squash.
2. Strip chard leaves from stems and wash in 2 changes of water. Keep leaves whole.
3. Rinse chard stems and cut in small dice if wide, or, if thin, slice crosswise 1/4 inch thick. (I cut my wide stems into thin strips and then sliced all of them crosswise 1/4 inch thick.) Set aside stems with chayote in one bowl and leaves in another.
4. Make the salsa verde: Combine tomatillos, jalapeños and onion in a large saucepan or Dutch oven; cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, until tomatillos have gone from pale green to olive and have softened. Using a slotted spoon or a Chinese strainer, transfer tomatillos, onion and one of the jalapeños to a blender. (I used a Vitamix!) Do not drain water from pot. Let vegetables cool in the blender while you blanch greens and chayote.
5. Add more water to the pot so it is about 2/3 full. Return to a boil, salt generously, and add the chard leaves. Blanch until tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer leaves to a bowl of cold (ice) water to quickly shock, then drain and dry. Chop coarsely and set aside.
6. Return water to a simmer and add chayote and chard stems. Simmer 5 minutes, or until just tender. Drain through a colander and again on paper towels.
7. Add whole garlic cloves and cilantro sprigs to ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Taste for heat and add remaining jalapeño if desired. (I only used one jalapeño- and the salsa had quite a kick!)
8. Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. When hot, add tomatillo purée and partly cover to protect from splattering. Cook, stirring often, until it thickens and begins to stick to the pan, about 5 minutes.
9. Stir in stock, add salt to taste, and bring to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring often, until sauce is thick and coats the front and back of a spoon. Taste and adjust seasoning.
10. Heat olive oil in medium skillet over medium heat and add minced garlic. When fragrant, after about 30 seconds, stir in oregano, blanched and chopped leaves, stems, and chayote. Cook, stirring for about 3 minutes, until tender, fragrant and coated with oil. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in 1 cup salsa verde and set aside.
11. Place tortillas in a tortilla warmer or on a microwave safe plate. Cover with a damp paper towel and cover with warmer lid, or with plastic wrap if using a plate. Microwave on high for 1 minute. (Alternatively: Prepare the tortillas: Heat 1/3 cup canola oil in a medium skillet over medium heat, until oil bubbles around the edges of a tortilla when you dip it into the pan. Place a platter covered with paper towels next to pan. Using tongs, slide tortillas, one at a time, into hot oil. As soon as tortilla begins to puff, about 10 to 15 seconds, flip over and leave another 10 to 15 seconds. Immediately remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Cover with foil to keep warm.)
12. One by one, quickly dip tortillas into the remaining warm salsa verde, lay on serving platter, and top with about 1/4 cup filling. Roll up tortilla and place seam side down on platter. When all tortillas have been filled, pour remaining salsa verde on top, sprinkle with cilantro and queso fresco (or feta) and serve.

One Year Ago:

• Shortcut Enchiladas Verdes

Two Years Ago:

• Cinco de Mayo Chicken Tinga Tacos
• Mexican Scrambled Egg & Bacon NYSSMA Celebration Tacos

Grilled Pork Chops with Fried-Sage Salsa Verde and Sage Potatoes

I am such a sauce person- this dish was super saucy! Sauce on the pork chops with sauce on the side. 🙂 The recipe was adapted from a “staff-favorite” Food and Wine dish. I adapted the recipe by decreasing the olive oil and by incorporating the leftover sage-grapeseed oil into mashed potatoes with grilled scallions. This was a wonderful dish to make with my giant herb garden sage and parsley plants too. Very flavorful and tasty.

• Grapeseed oil, for frying
• 1/2 cup sage leaves
• 1 medium-large shallot, minced
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 10 T cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
• 1 cup lightly packed parsley leaves, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced celery heart with leaves
• 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed, drained and minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced thyme
• Kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• six 3/4-pound boneless pork chops, about 1 inch thick
• 1 1/2 pounds gold potatoes
• 6-8 scallions, grilled
• milk, to taste

1. In a small saucepan, heat 1/4 inch of grapeseed oil until shimmering. Add the sage and fry over moderate heat, stirring, until the sizzling stops and the leaves are crisp, 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain.
2. In a mini food processor, mince the shallot. Add the vinegar and let stand for 5 minutes. Add the parsley, celery, capers and thyme and pulse to mince; season with salt and pepper. Pulse in the olive oil.
3. Meanwhile, bring the potatoes to a boil in a large pot of salted water. Cook until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and mash.
4. Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. Brush the pork chops with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Grill over moderate heat, turning once, until lightly charred and an instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone registers 135°, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer the chops to a platter and let rest for 5 minutes.
5. Lightly brush the scallions with olive oil. Grill until tender. Coarsely slice.
6. Stir the fried sage leaves into the salsa verde and serve with the pork chops.
7. Stir the sage-grapeseed oil into the mashed potatoes, small amounts at a time, with milk, to taste, to achieve desired texture. Stir in the chopped grilled scallions. Season with salt and pepper.

One Year Ago:

• Warm Lentil-Salad with Seared Tuna and Fresh Herb Vinaigrette

Seared Pork Chops with Garlic Scape Chimichurri

My weekly farm share is such a pleasure in my life. Everything is so beautiful and fresh. I love it! This time of year we receive garlic scapes- the curled flower top of a hardneck garlic plant. They have a more mild garlic flavor than the cloves- so seasonal, special, and delicious!

In the past, I have used garlic scapes in pesto, finely chopped and mixed into mashed red potatoes, and finely chopped into salads. This dish- by far- is my favorite application. I originally made this dish a few years ago and had been unable to relocate the recipe; this year I devoted a chunk of time to dig around for it. So happy to have it back in my life! 🙂

This recipe was adapted from the New York Times, contributed by Melissa Clark. The original sauce recipe uses green garlic- immature garlic which is pulled when growers are thinning crops. Green Garlic has more mild flavor than the cloves as well, but stronger flavor than garlic scapes.  I included the amount suggested for both in the recipe below. I’m a little late but I’m bringing this amazing dish to the party – FF#22!! Great!

• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 3 tablespoons chopped mint, optional (I substituted 2 additional tablespoons of chopped chives)
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic chives or regular chives
• 4 to 6 thinly sliced garlic scapes or 2 tablespoons finely chopped green garlic
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon chile flakes
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 5 one-inch thick center cut boneless pork loin chops
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1.
Combine the herbs, garlic scapes (or green garlic), lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, and chile flakes. Stir in 1/2 cup oil. (I used a mini-food processor.)
2.
Season the meat with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil and reduce heat to medium-high. Add the pork and cook without moving, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook until meat is just cooked through, about 3 minutes more (to 140 degrees). Let rest 5 minutes before serving, topped with chimichurri.

One Year Ago:

• Cheesy Mushroom Crostini on Boston Lettuce