Pan-Roasted Chicken with Olives and Lemon

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Serves four.

by Melissa Pellegrino
from Fine Cooking
Issue 103
Last Edit Date: 2/4/2010 12:20:08 PM

This dish is elegant enough for entertaining but simple enough to make anytime.

more about:

One 4-lb. chicken, cut into eight pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 medium lemon
1 Tbs. unsalted butter; more as needed
1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
5 medium shallots, peeled and quartered lengthwise
3/4 cup jarred brined olives, rinsed, pitted, and halved
8 fresh sage leaves
6 small fresh or 3 dried bay leaves
2 sprigs fresh thyme, plus 1 tsp. chopped

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F.

Season the chicken generously on all sides with salt and pepper.

Cut the ends off the lemon, stand it on one end, and slice off the peel and the bitter white pith to expose the flesh. Cut the lemon segments from the membranes, letting them drop into a small bowl. Cut each segment crosswise into 4 pieces.

Heat the butter and the oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, cook the chicken skin side down until golden-brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate. Pour off all but 2 Tbs. of the fat. Add the shallots, olives, sage, bay leaves, thyme sprigs, and lemon segments, and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.

Return the chicken to the pan skin side up and transfer to the oven. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh registers 165°F, 18 to 20 minutes. Serve, sprinkled with the chopped thyme.

nutrition information (per serving):
Calories (kcal): 630; Fat (g): 40; Fat Calories (kcal): 360; Saturated Fat (g): 11; Protein (g): 60; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 18; Carbohydrates (g): 6; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 7; Sodium (mg): 850; Cholesterol (mg): 200; Fiber (g): 1;

Photo: Scott Phillips

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by mihod, 10/28/2011We really enjoyed this recipe. Instead of making a separate starch for the dinner, I just through in small potatoes. and they turned out great, too. Even though they were in the oven longer than they should have been, the meat was moist ( I only used legs ), and the skin was crispy. I don't usually like to eat skin but this one, didn't leave any. Next time we have dinner guests, I this will be on our menu for sure! Simple, elegant, and soooo yummy.

by chaygrifdall, 1/13/2011This was great. We kept it in the oven to cook for an hour so it was very tender. I will definitely make this again.

by dineindiva, 9/16/2010Simple and delicious! Will definitely make this one again.

by weatherbob, 8/3/2010This was my first time cooking anything like this and my wife and family loved it, i'm taking online classes at the art instiute of pitt in hotel and restuarant mangement

by twood, 3/9/2010I really enjoyed this recipe. It had a very rich flavor and it was easy to make. I will make this one again and again!

by ChefTLT, 3/3/2010This dish had pretty good flavor. I didn't have any shallots on hand, so I used an entire onion and a few cloves of garlic. I served it with roasted potatoes. They were great to use to dunk in the 'gravy'.

by TheMomChef, 3/1/2010Absolutely wonderful. Will make this again and again. View my full review with picture at: http://themomchef.blogspot.com/2010/03/pan-roasted-chicken-with-olives-and.html

by GlassCircus, 2/16/2010We really enjoyed this. Used preserved lemon as we cook Moroccan so had them on hand. Is simpler as far as spicing goes but still had great flavor. Will definitely make this again.

by katewalk, 1/23/2010This dish was fabulously flavorful! Each bite was packed flavor. This recipe is a keeper. I served it with a wine rice and vermicelli dish as well as broccoli. My husband kept telling me to not lose the recipe!

by Bethila, 1/5/2010This was a fairly quick recipe that had a wonderful finished product. I used just kalamata olives and the mix of flavors by the end of cooking had my husband and I "mmm mmming" all through dinner. To make the lemon cutting a little easier I treated them like grapefruit. Cut lemon in half, then cut between each skin with a sharp knife to loosen the flesh, then scooped out with a spoon. We served this with herbed scalloped potatoes, summer squash and fresh bread. Will definitely make this again.