February 21, 2019 Dinner

Baked Chicken Thighs with Herbs de Provence

If you like chicken wings, but always wish there was more meat, then the chicken thigh is for you. The chicken thigh is a mix or dark and light meat, which means it retains it juices, stays moist and has lots of flavor.

When you cook meat with the bone in, you gain additional health benefits and flavor that is transferred to the meat during the cooking process. 

The added benefit of cooking meat with bones is that you can stock pile them for a rainy day bone broth.

SAVE YOUR CHICKEN BONES FOR BONE BROTH

Simply wash of the bones after you’ve enjoyed your chicken thighs. Pat the bones dry. Place in a freezer Ziploc bag or secured container and place in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Once your freezer size one-gallon plastic bag is full of bones, your ready to make a batch of broth. A one-gallon freezer bag of bones equals two chicken carcasses, the amount you need to do a proper pot of bone broth.

COOKING WITH HERBS DE PROVENCE

This herb blend originates from the South of France. There are many different herbs and spices that collectively can be referred to herbs de Provence, but the basic recipe includes basil, fennel, marjoram, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, and thyme.

You may see recipes that include lavender, crude bay leaves, savory, chervil, sage, oregano, and mint. With this in mind, be sure to read the ingredients of the blend you purchased, and keep trying different versions of this mixture until you find one you like.

When you combine herbs de Provence with the flavor of dijon mustard you get much more depth. You can taste the herbs and sweet Dijon mustard whether enjoying this dish hot or cold. It makes for great chicken leftovers you can enjoy on their own or in a salad.

HOW TO CHOOSE DIJON MUSTARD

When choosing Dijon mustard or grain mustard, be sure to read the ingredients. Avoid mustards that use sugar or citric acid.

I like Mustard & Co. Whole Foods Market, Mother’s Market and Erewhon sell brands that don’t have sugar.  

WHAT IS CONVECTION SETTING

This is a setting on most new models of luxury brand ovens. How is it different from bake mode? A fan in the back of the oven rotates the hot air. This allows for more browning.

The result is that most food cooks faster, gets more browning, and in this case, more crispy skin.

HOW TO GET YOUR CHICKEN THIGHS EXTRA CRISPY

Want to take your chicken thighs a step further and get them extra crispy? Bake them on a traditional baking cooling rack like this one.

This way the hot air will rotate around the chicken, the juices and fat will drip bellow, and you’ll get more crispy, flavorful chicken. You can place your chopped vegetables below and have them roasting while you cook your chicken thighs.

CHEF TIPS

Remember, when making this dish (and with everything you cook) your ingredients matter. If you are using herbs de Provence your aunt bought you five years ago when she was in France, throw them away. They’ve lost their flavor.

Herbs and spices should be used within one year of purchase for the best flavor and quality. I like the Frontier Co-Op brand Herbes de Provence which you can find at Whole Foods Market.

Please choose the best quality chicken you have access to and that works within your budget. For this dish I use a Jidori chicken thighs I purchase at The Butchery in Newport Beach, California. 

IF YOU LIKE THIS RECIPE, TRY THIS DISH PAIRED WITH THE FOLLOWING

• Slow Cooked Collard Greens
• Butter Lettuce Salad with Smoky Blue Cheese
• Purple Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Balsamic Marinated Beets with Fennel & Arugula
• Quick Lemon Brussel Sprouts

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