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Chicken with Mustard and Fennel

17/11/2023

Chicken with mustard and fennel is a dish that pairs the sweetness of fennel with the robust savoriness of mustard, creating a very pleasant balance of flavors.

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 2 medium fennels
  • 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 1 lemon (juice)
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Sprigs of fresh thyme (optional)
  • 100 ml of chicken or vegetable broth

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
  2. In a large bowl, mix the mustard, honey, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to create a marinade.
  3. Rub the chicken thighs with the marinade, making sure they are well coated. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes, if you have time, even for a couple of hours in the refrigerator.
  4. In the meantime, clean the fennels. Remove the outermost hard part if it’s damaged and cut the bulb into quarters or wedges, depending on the size.
  5. Crush the garlic cloves with the side of a knife and remove the skin.
  6. In a large pan or in a baking dish, pour a drizzle of oil and arrange the chicken with the skin side down. Add the fennels, garlic cloves, and sprigs of thyme around it.
  7. Brown the chicken on both sides until the skin becomes golden and crispy, then transfer the pan to the oven.
  8. Cook in the oven for about 25-30 minutes. If necessary, during cooking, add a bit of chicken or vegetable broth to prevent the chicken and fennels from drying out too much.
  9. Check the chicken’s doneness by inserting a cooking thermometer into the thickest part – the internal temperature should be at least 74 °C.
  10. Once cooked, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving it with the fennel and the cooking juice as a sauce.

Fun Fact

Mustard is a very versatile ingredient in cooking and is often used to create emulsions or as a condiment for meats. Its origins are very ancient, and it seems that it was already cultivated by the Romans, who used it both as a condiment and for its health properties.

Remember that each oven is different and cooking times may vary. Enjoy your meal!

Chicken with Mustard and Fennel