For this braise, use whole chickens cut into pieces to get the perfect mix of white and dark meat to please all of your guests. If you prefer either all dark or all white meat, you can instead buy about 5 pounds of the chicken parts you like.
SERVES: 6 to 8
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup dried Black Mission figs (about 15)
- 2 3-lb. chickens, rinsed and patted dry
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 medium onions, finely diced (about 21/2 cups)
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp. saffron threads, crumbled
- 2 3-inch cinnamon sticks
- 14 oz. (13/4 cups) homemade or lower-salt canned chicken broth
- 2 medium tomatoes (about 11/4 pounds total), cored, seeded, and cut into 1/2 -inch cubes (about 3 cups)
- 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; plus another 1/4 cup for garnish
- 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 Tbs. freshly squeezed lemon juice; more if needed
- 1 butternut squash (about 11/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 3/4-inch dice
- 6 drops Tabasco or other hot sauce
- Couscous with Chickpeas and
- Pistachios
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (from about 1/2 pomegranate)
- Savory Lemon Garnish
SAVORY LEMON GARNISH:
- 2 lemons, scrubbed
- 1 Tbs. kosher salt
- 1 Tbs. freshly squeezed lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Soak the dried figs in 1/2 cup boiling water for 30 minutes.
- Cut each chicken into 6 or 8 pieces, reserving the backs for a soup or stock. Season the chicken parts with salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven or a large, heavy pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and sauté as many chicken pieces as will fit into the pan without crowding (about a third to a half) on both sides until golden brown. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken; set aside.
- Put the onion, garlic, cumin, saffron, and cinnamon sticks into the pot and stir, scraping up the browned bits clinging to the bottom. Sauté, stirring often, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. If the mixture begins to dry out or burn, add some of the fig soaking liquid.
- Add the chicken broth, the figs and their soaking liquid, the tomatoes, 1 cup of the parsley, the cilantro, and the lemon juice, and return the reserved chicken pieces and any accumulated juices to the pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Partially cover the pot and simmer, skimming any fat or froth as necessary. After 20 minutes, add the squash and nestle it into the stew so that it’s completely submerged. Cook until the chicken is cooked through and tender and the squash has softened, about another 20 minutes.
- Remove the chicken and squash from the broth and set aside. Discard the cinnamon sticks. Increase the heat to medium high and, stirring, reduce the broth by half or until it attains a saucy consistency, 10 to 15 minutes. Return the chicken only to the pot. At this point, you can cool and refrigerate the braise.
- Before serving, gently reheat the braise over low heat. If the broth is too thick, thin it with a bit of water. When the chicken is hot, stir in the squash and toss gently until warmed through. Add the Tabasco and adjust the salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste. Mound the couscous on a platter and surround it with the chicken. Drizzle with the sauce. Arrange the squash on top of the couscous. Garnish with the pomegranate seeds, lemon garnish, and the remaining 1/4 cup parsley.
SAVORY LEMON GARNISH:
- With a vegetable peeler, remove the zest from both lemons in wide strips, taking care not to include any of the white pith. Cut the strips of zest into thinner strips, about 1/4 inch wide.
- Put the zest in a small saucepan of boiling water and boil for 3 minutes. Drain in a strainer and rinse with cold water. Repeat this procedure of boiling (with fresh water) and draining two more times. The zest will be somewhat soft and most of the bitterness will be gone.
- Drain well and put the zest in a ramekin with the salt and lemon juice. Cover and let the flavors develop overnight in the refrigerator. Rinse gently with water before using.
