Lemon Chicken with Artichokes

Lemon Chicken with Artichokes is a flavorful dish that combines the freshness of lemon with the delicateness of artichokes. Here’s the recipe to prepare it:

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs
• 4 artichokes
• 1 lemon (and the grated zest of half a lemon)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chicken or vegetable broth, as needed
• A handful of chopped parsley (optional)
• Flour, for dusting the chicken

Preparation

1. Clean the artichokes by removing the outer harder leaves, cut off the tips and remove the inner fuzz if present. Cut them into wedges and immerse them in water with the juice of half a lemon to prevent browning.
2. Lightly flour the chicken thighs. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and brown the chicken until golden on both sides. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, add the garlic cloves and the drained artichokes. Sauté them until they are lightly golden.
4. Put the chicken back in the pan with the artichokes, add the grated zest of half a lemon and the juice of the other half. Pour the broth in to cover about half of the ingredients in the pan.
5. Cover with a lid and let cook over medium-low heat for about 30-40 minutes, until the chicken is well cooked and the artichokes are tender. If necessary, add more broth during cooking.
6. Once the chicken and artichokes are cooked, remove the lid and increase the heat to reduce the cooking liquid and intensify the flavors. Adjust the salt and pepper if necessary.
7. At the end of cooking, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley to give a touch of color and freshness to the dish.

Curiosity

Lemon Chicken with Artichokes is a dish that lends itself to many variations; some prefer to use chicken breast instead of thighs. Moreover, this dish is particularly appreciated in the spring season, when artichokes are fresh and at the peak of their flavor.