Easy Gourmet Pomegranate Chicken

If you’re like me, you agonize over what to cook for a group gathering or…your in-laws! With the holidays approaching, chances are you’ll be doing some entertaining or maybe even playing host to your in-laws and you’ll be wondering what fabulous holiday dish you can prepare with all you have going on. Well, last night I found just that dish! It highlights pomegranate, which is the new “in” food with all of it’s anti-oxidant powers and delicious taste, and is a PERFECT festive holiday food. This meal should be started in the morning (since it needs to marinate) which means less prep time for you in the evening when it all needs to be made. My suggestion is to get as much ready in the morning as you can while you’re getting the chicken marinating so when it’s time for dinner, you’ll look like super woman just tossing a few things together to make such a fabulous meal that will seem to your guests like you slaved in the kitchen all day for.  I’ve included the recipe and what to do in the morning and evening and how to put it together for presenation.  Here’s to very successful entertaining by YOU!  Good luck!

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Pomegranate Chicken

1 c. unsweetened pomegranate juice (from about 5 large pomegranates or from store bought juice)
3 T. soy sauce
1/2 t. dry rosemary (or about double for fresh)
1/2 t. fresh grated ginger (I don’t peel mine and you can freeze leftover whole ginger in your freezer, just grate what you need)
2 large cloves garlic, minced or pressed
3 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (really the richness of thigh meat is needed in this recipe)
1/2 c. heavy cream
1/3 c. pomegranate seeds (optional)
fresh rosemary or parsley sprigs

In a 9×13 baking dish, combine pomegranate juice, soy sauce, rosemary, ginger, and garlic. Coat chicen wit marinade. Cover, refrigerate 8 hours or over night.

Drain off and reserve marinade. Arrange chicken pieces slightly apart in baking dish. Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven about 30-45 minutes, basting occasionally with marinade. (Your chicken will be dyed red due to the pomegranate juice so you’ll want to use a thememometer for doneness, it should be 165)

Transfer chicken to platter and keep warm. Then pour drippings into a 1 1/2-2 qt. pan, stir in cream. Bring to boil over high heat and boil rapidly until sauce is slightly thickened and reduced to about 3/4 cup. Spoon sauce evenly over chicken. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and rosemary sprigs. Serve over Pomegranate Rice.

Pomegranate Rice

2 green onions, chopped with the tops (cut the white in half and shop horizontally)
1 T. butter
1 c. long grain rice
2 t. grated fresh ginger
1/8 t. ground cinnamon
2 c. chicken broth
1/2 c. roasted salted pistachio nuts, shelled (or you could sub in coarsely chopped cashews)
1 c. pomegranate seeds
lemon peel strips (optional)

In large saucepan cook green onions in hot butter over medium heat 3-5 minutes or just until tender, stirring occasionally. Add rice, ginger, and cinnamon. Cook and stir 5 minutes or until rice begins to brown.

Carefully add broth to rice. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer covered, 14 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.

Stir in nuts and pomegranate seeds. Sprinkle with lemon peel.

Putting both recipes together:

In the morning do the following:

• grate 2 1/2 t. fresh ginger (using 1/2 t. for the marinade and reserving 2 t. for the rice)
• get chicken in marinade and soaking in your fridge for 8 hours
• open pomegranate and empty seeds (you’ll need 1 1/3 c.- 1 c. for the rice and 1/3 c. for the chicken)
• chop 2 green onions and place in the fridge for later
• check and make sure you’ve all the needed ingredients (running to the store in the morning is a lot easier than doing it while you’re making dinner)

In the evening:

• Get your chicken cooking
• Start your rice
• While the rice is cooking prepare side dishes (I did asparagus and artichokes- but you could do  nice salad, green beans, etc.)

Presentation:

On a large platter overlap chicken thighs around the edge.  Fill the center with rice.  Pour chicken sauce over chicken and garnish with pomegranate seeds.  Place sprigs of rosemary in between the chicken thighs and one in the center of the rice.  Place lemon strips on top of rice.