Mock Chicken Marbella Recipes

Steps:

• Combine the olive oil, vinegar, prunes, olives, capers, bay leaves, garlic, oregano, 2 tablespoons salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper in a large bowl. Add the chicken to the marinade. (You can also place the chicken and marinade in a 2-gallon plastic storage bag and squeeze out the air to make sure the chicken is fully covered with the marinade.) Refrigerate overnight, turning occasionally to be sure the marinade is getting into all of the chicken pieces.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the chicken, skin side up, along with the marinade in one layer in a large (15-by-18-inch) roasting pan, sprinkle with the brown sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper, and pour the wine around (not over!) the chicken. Roast for 45 to 55 minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken is 145 degrees F. Remove the pan from the oven, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. Transfer the chicken, prunes, and olives to a serving platter, sprinkle with salt, and serve hot with the pan juices.

Steps:

• Add olives and capers to the container of a food processor; process until fairly smooth; set aside.
• Position oven rack so that it is in the center of the oven; preheat to 400°.
• Add balsamic vinaigrette, olive/caper mixture, garlic, oregano, bay leaves, and prunes in a mixing bowl; stir well to combine.
• Add in chicken tenders; fold in.
• Transfer mixture to a 13x9 inch glass or ceramic casserole dish; make sure chicken tenders are in one layer and not on top of one another.
• Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the chicken.
• Pour the wine around the tenders (not on top of the chicken, otherwise the brown sugar will get rinsed off the top of the chicken) Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken has carmelized on top and juices run clear.
• Discard bay leaves.
• Good served warm with rice or couscous; also good served cold.

Steps:

• Wash chicken in cold water, pat dry and cut into quarters.
• In a large bowl, combine garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, olives, capers, bay leaves and mix well. Add chicken quarters and coat well with marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to marinate.
• NEXT DAY: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange chicken in a single layer in a 9" x 13" oven proof casserole dish or a shallow baking pan.
• Spoon marinade evenly over chicken. Sprinkle chicken with brown sugar. Pour white wine into the dish, (NOT OVER THE CHICKEN).
• Bake in preheated 350F oven for 50 to 60 minutes, basting frequently with pan juices. Note: Chicken is done when thigh pieces are pricked with a fork at their thickest and no pink is showing.
• With a slotted spoon, transfer chicken, prunes, olives and capers to a serving platter. Moisten chicken with a few spoonfuls of pan juices. Sprinkle generously with finely chopped fresh parsley. Pour remainder of pan juices into a sauceboat and serve along with the chicken for those who desire more liquid.
• NOTES: The overnight marination is essential to the moistness of the finished product. The chicken improves over a couple days of refrigeration. It also travels well and makes excellent picnic fare. Also, you may make this recipe with small drumsticks. It makes delicious hor d'oeuvres. This recipe doubles very easily if serving large groups. Bake in a large roasting pan.

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high until shimmering and tiny wisps of smoke are visible, about 2 minutes. Add chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until deep golden brown, about 10 minutes. (Covering the chicken speeds up the cook time and prevents the oil from splattering all over your stovetop.) Flip chicken, cover again and cook until golden on second side, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute.
• Arrange prunes, olives, capers and brine, bay leaves and oregano in between chicken pieces. Sprinkle with brown sugar, 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; pour wine and vinegar over top and bring to a boil. Reduce to low, cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a serving platter and return pan to high heat. Cook sauce, swirling occasionally, until reduced and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Spoon pan sauce over chicken and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F (205 C).
• In a sauce pan, combine wine, broth, prunes, brown sugar, vinegar, olives, garlic, oil and oregano.
• Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Reduce the heat and simmer gently uncovered for 10 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt an pepper.
• Place chicken breast in a large shallow baking dish.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken.
• Turn to coat.
• Scatter capers over the top.
• Bake until the chicken is no longer pink in the center 30 to 35 minutes.