This is my go to recipe for a crowd. It couldn't be easier and it packs a lot of flavor. Plus, it's even better the next day or served at room temperature.
What? Something that doesn't need last minute attention?? Hello, dinner party favorite! For this reason, when I catered my own rehearsal dinner (crazy I know) I made chicken marbella.
Arrange chicken in a single layer in one or two large, shallow baking pans and spoon marinade over it evenly. Sprinkle chicken pieces with brown sugar and pour white wine around them.
Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, basting frequently with pan juices. Chicken is done when thigh pieces, pricked with a fork at their thickest, yield clear yellow (rather than pink) juice. **less time with boneless breasts...check them at 35 mins**
With a slotted spoon transfer chicken, prunes, olives and capers to a serving platter. Moisten with a few spoonfuls of pan juices and sprinkle generously with parsley or cilantro. Pass remaining pan juices in a sauceboat.
To serve Chicken Marbella cold, cool to room temperature in cooking juices before transferring to a serving platter. If chicken has been covered and refrigerated, allow it to return to room temperature before serving. Spoon some of the reserved juices over chicken.
I substitute boneless chicken breasts, and make a mix of green and black kalamata olives. I also throw in some extra prunes...so tasty!
I cannot thank the Silver Palate enough for this amazing dinner party standard, which I located on epicurious.com to put here. My comments are in red.
Ingredients:
4 chickens, 2 1/2 pounds each, quartered **I use boneless breasts**
1 head of garlic, peeled and finely pureed
1/4 cup dried oregano **or more**
coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup red wine vinegar **I use balsamic**
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup pitted prunes **chopped**
1/2 cup pitted Spanish green olives
1/2 cup capers with a bit of juice
6 bay leaves
1 cup brown sugar **I half that amount**
1 cup white wine
1/4 cup Italian parsley or fresh coriander (cilantro), finely chopped **I use parsley and fresh oregano**
In a large bowl combine chicken quarters, garlic, oregano, pepper and coarse salt to taste, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, olives, capers and juice, and bay leaves. Cover and let marinate, refrigerated, overnight. **very important!**
1 head of garlic, peeled and finely pureed
1/4 cup dried oregano **or more**
coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup red wine vinegar **I use balsamic**
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup pitted prunes **chopped**
1/2 cup pitted Spanish green olives
1/2 cup capers with a bit of juice
6 bay leaves
1 cup brown sugar **I half that amount**
1 cup white wine
1/4 cup Italian parsley or fresh coriander (cilantro), finely chopped **I use parsley and fresh oregano**
In a large bowl combine chicken quarters, garlic, oregano, pepper and coarse salt to taste, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, olives, capers and juice, and bay leaves. Cover and let marinate, refrigerated, overnight. **very important!**
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Arrange chicken in a single layer in one or two large, shallow baking pans and spoon marinade over it evenly. Sprinkle chicken pieces with brown sugar and pour white wine around them.
Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, basting frequently with pan juices. Chicken is done when thigh pieces, pricked with a fork at their thickest, yield clear yellow (rather than pink) juice. **less time with boneless breasts...check them at 35 mins**
With a slotted spoon transfer chicken, prunes, olives and capers to a serving platter. Moisten with a few spoonfuls of pan juices and sprinkle generously with parsley or cilantro. Pass remaining pan juices in a sauceboat.
To serve Chicken Marbella cold, cool to room temperature in cooking juices before transferring to a serving platter. If chicken has been covered and refrigerated, allow it to return to room temperature before serving. Spoon some of the reserved juices over chicken.
