Skillet Chicken with White Beans and Caramelized Lemon

by Susan Hanna

Serves 4

This recipe from the New York Times combines tasty chicken thighs with caramelized lemon and shallots, white beans and kale. Brown the thighs, then set aside while you caramelize the lemon slices and shallot. Add the beans and then the kale, which will wilt slightly. Return the chicken to the pan, heat it through and serve!

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Make sure the beans do not contain preservatives. PC Blue Menu beans are a good choice. For more recipes using all-natural ingredients, visit Eye For a Recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon, thinly sliced, seeds removed
• 1 shallot, peeled and cut into thin wedges
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• 2 ½ pounds (1.13 kg) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or breasts (about 4 to 6)
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 (15-ounce/443 ml) can small white beans (such as Great Northern, navy or cannellini) or chickpeas
• 1 bunch kale, ribs removed, leaves torn into large pieces
•  Flaky sea salt
•  Olive oil, for drizzling

Preparation:

1. Toss lemon slices and shallots together in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper; set aside. (This will lightly pickle the shallot and soften the lemon while you cook the chicken.)
2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add chicken, skin-side down. Using kitchen tongs or a spatula, press the chicken evenly into the skillet so it makes good contact with the hot surface (which will promote browning). Cook, resisting the urge to check too frequently, until the skin is deeply golden brown (think of the color of a well-baked croissant), 5 to 8 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken pieces. At this stage, most of the fat should be rendered and the skin should be crispy. Flip and continue to cook until pieces are cooked through, another 7 to 10 minutes.
3. Using kitchen tongs, transfer chicken to a plate to rest, leaving all the fat behind. Add lemon and shallot to the chicken fat, standing back if you need because it will sizzle. Cook, swirling the skillet, until the lemon has started to caramelize and brown, 3 to 5 minutes. (It’ll smell like a mix of lemonade and caramel.)
4. Add the beans to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the beans have started to brown a bit and soak up all of that caramelized lemon chicken fat, 3 to 4 minutes. Working in batches, add kale and toss to wilt, seasoning with salt and pepper as you go.
5. Return the chicken to the skillet, along with any juices that have collected on the plate, and cook for a minute or two, just so everything gets to know each other in there.
6. Divide the chicken, beans and kale between plates, making sure to top each serving with a few lemon slices. Sprinkle with flaky salt and a final few turns of pepper, and drizzle with olive oil.

From the New York Times