Chicken is roasted in sweet cider and then topped with a spicy sauce.
Directions for: Roasted Cider-Glazed Chicken with Apple and Red Chile Mole
Ingredients
Apple and Red Chile Mole2 Tbsp canola oil
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1 small Spanish onion, coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp ancho chile powder
tsp ground allspice
tsp ground chiles de arbol
tsp ground cloves
2 gala apples, cored and coarsely chopped
2 cinnamon sticks
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp pureed chipotles in adobo
cup slivered almonds, lightly toasted
cup coarsely crushed blue corn tortilla chips
cup golden raisins
2 cups homemade chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups apple cider
1 cup canned plum tomatoes, crushed slightly by hand with their juices
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp light brown sugar
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp pure maple syrup
oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
Roasted Cider-Glazed Chicken2 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts, halved
2 bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks
2 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 Tbsp canola oil
cup apple cider, plus more if needed
1 Tbsp honey
3 sprigs thyme
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced for serving
Directions
Apple and Red Chile Mole1. Heat the oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the ancho powder, allspice, chiles de arbol, cloves, apples and cinnamon sticks and some salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes. Stir in the chipotle puree, then the almonds, tortilla chips and raisins. Add the chicken stock, 1 cup of the apple cider, the tomatoes and cider vinegar. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and reduced, about 15 minutes.
2. Stir in the brown sugar, honey and maple syrup and cook, stirring, another 10 minutes. Stir in the chocolate to melt. Remove the cinnamon sticks and discard. If the mixture seems too thick to blend easily, add a little extra cider. Transfer the mixture to a blender and, starting on very low speed, blend until smooth. Again, if the sauce seems too thick, thin it with a bit more cider. Return the sauce to the pot and cook very gently for another 10 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Cover to keep warm while you cook the chicken.
Roasted Cider-Glazed Chicken1. Preheat the oven to 400F.
2. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat until it begins to shimmer. Working in batches if necessary to avoid crowding the pan, add the chicken skin-side down and cook until the fat renders and the skin begins to turn golden brown. Turn, cook for a few minutes to start browning the second side, and then transfer to the oven.
3. While the chicken cooks, whisk together the cider, honey and thyme in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, and then remove from the heat.
4. After the chicken has cooked for about 10 minutes, brush with the glaze. Continue to cook, brushing with glaze occasionally, until the chicken reaches 160F on an instant-read thermometer, about 15 minutes total for the breasts, 20 to 25 minutes for the thighs and drumsticks.
5. Ladle some of the mole onto a platter and top with the chicken pieces. Spoon some more mole over the top, sprinkle with scallions and serve.
Tips and Substitutions
When blending hot liquid, first let it cool for five minutes or so, then transfer it to a blender, filling only halfway. Put the lid on, leaving one corner open. Cover the lid with a kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until smooth.
See more: Chicken, Dinner, Fruit, Main, Pepper, Poultry, Roast