Capers, lemon make a zesty chicken dish

Published 3:11 pm Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Braised chicken with capers

1pound new potatoes

8skinless, bone-in chicken thighs (6 to 7 ounces each)

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

3tablespoons olive oil

1shallot, finely chopped

1/4cup salt-packed capers, rinsed and coarsely chopped

3/4cup chicken broth

1tablespoon sherry vinegar

1tablespoon lemon juice

2tablespoons chives, cut into 1-inch pieces

Clean and quarter the potatoes. Place them in a bowl of cold water and set aside.

Wash the chicken under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Remove excess fat and season each piece with a pinch each of salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Quickly sear the chicken thighs until browned on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side; taking care as the chicken will splatter and adjusting the heat as necessary. Remove the browned chicken to a plate.

Drain the potatoes and pat dry with paper towels. Add them to the hot skillet, cut side down, and cook until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove them to a plate and cover to keep warm.

Add the shallot and capers to the skillet and quickly saute, about 1 minute. Stir in the chicken broth, vinegar and lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits in the bottom of the pan.

Add the chicken back to the pan, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover with a tight-fitting lid. Cook the chicken until tender and a thermometer inserted into the meat reads 165 degrees, about 25 to 30 minutes. Add the browned potatoes to the pan during the last 15 minutes of cooking.

Arrange the chicken and potatoes on a platter. Taste the sauce to check the seasoning, then bring to a simmer and cook for an additional minute. Spoon the sauce over the chicken, and sprinkle with the chives. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 387 calories; 28 grams protein; 21 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams fiber; 21 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 93 milligrams cholesterol; 860 milligrams sodium.

From Los Angeles Times test kitchen director Donna Deane