Chicken Thighs With Green Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• For the chicken thighs: Whisk the beer, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, paprika, black pepper, cinnamon and sugar together in a large bowl or baking dish. Add the chicken thighs and toss to coat all sides. Cover and refrigerate the chicken for a minimum of 3 hours and up to overnight.
• When ready to roast, set an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, discard the marinating liquid from the bowl or baking dish and drizzle the oil over the chicken to fully coat. Transfer chicken thighs skin-side up to a rimmed sheet pan. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F, about 35 minutes.
• While the chicken roasts, make the avocado green sauce: Combine the queso fresco, mayonnaise, jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, lemon juice, salt and 1/2 cup of water in a blender. Blend until the ingredients are minced. Turn off the blender, add the avocado and blend until the sauce becomes smooth and uniform in color, about 1 minute. Be careful to not over blend as the sauce will break. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• Remove the chicken from the oven and allow to rest 5 minutes. Serve with the avocado sauce.

Steps:

• Roast the chicken:
• Arrange rack in middle of oven; preheat to 400°F. Mix garlic, cumin, oil, paprika, pepper, oregano, 1/2 tsp. salt, and finely grated zest from 1 lemon in a medium bowl. Quarter zested lemon; set aside 2 quarters. Squeeze juice from 1 whole lemon and remaining 2 quarters to yield 2 Tbsp. juice; stir into spice mixture.
• Place chicken breast side down on work surface. Spatchcock chicken by cutting along both sides of backbone with kitchen shears. Remove backbone; reserve for stock. Turn chicken breast side up and splay open. Press down on breastbone with palms until you hear it crack and chicken is as flat as possible. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Rub chicken all over with 2 reserved lemon quarters. Squeeze juice over bird, then rub skin all over with inside of rinds.
• From both edges of cavity, loosen skin from breasts and thighs, being careful not to tear skin. Using your fingers, gently spread 2 heaping Tbsp. spice mixture under skin (reserve remaining spice mixture), then season chicken all over with remaining 1 tsp. salt. Transfer chicken, spread flat and skin side up, to a roasting pan or large skillet.
• Roast chicken 20 minutes, then brush with spice mixture and pan juices. Continue roasting, basting with spice mixture and pan juices every 20 minutes, until juices run clear when thigh is pierced with a fork or an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165ºF, 50-60 minutes total.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest 15 minutes, reserving pan juices.
• Make the green sauce:
• Purée cilantro, jalapeños, garlic, oil, lime juice, and salt in a blender until combined. Add mayonnaise and purée until well blended. Transfer to a small bowl, cover, and chill until ready to use.
• Make the salad:
• Gently toss cucumbers, avocado, scallions, lime juice, oil, salt, and 1/2 cup cilantro in a large bowl. Sprinkle with more cilantro.
• Carve chicken and transfer to a platter; baste with reserved pan juices. Serve with green sauce and salad alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Green sauce can be made 5 days ahead. Cover and chill.