Bacon-Wrapped Chicken with Artichokes and Sweet Potatoes

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken with Artichokes and Sweet Potatoes is a hearty and flavorful dish that combines the bold taste of chicken and the unique flavor of artichokes, with the sweetness of sweet potatoes. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs
• 8 slices of bacon or pancetta
• 4 artichokes
• 2 large sweet potatoes
• 1 lemon (for the artichokes)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Sprigs of fresh rosemary
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Clean the artichokes by removing the toughest outer leaves and cutting off the spiky top. Cut the artichokes in half or quarters and place them in water acidulated with lemon juice to prevent them from darkening.
2. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into pieces about the same size as the artichokes.
3. Take the chicken thighs and individually wrap them with 2 slices of bacon or pancetta, trying to cover them as much as possible.
4. In a baking dish, place the bacon-wrapped chicken thighs and distribute the artichokes and sweet potato pieces around them. Add the garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs.
5. Season everything with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.
6. Preheat the oven to 190 °C (375 °F) and cook for about 40-45 minutes, or until the chicken is well browned and the vegetables are tender.

For an Italian touch, you might use guanciale instead of pancetta and add a splash of white wine to the dish before baking to enhance the aroma and create a sort of sauce.

Curiosity

Bacon-wrapped chicken is a technique that involves wrapping chicken with slices of lard or bacon, not only to add flavor but also to keep the meat soft and juicy during cooking.

Remember that if you prefer, you can vary the herbs according to your taste, perhaps using thyme or sage instead of rosemary.