:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/chicken-marbella-recipe-4684696-hero-01-8b2765ebefb4428ca2f4622d86b300b0.jpg)
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Chicken Marbella is an iconic chicken dish from The Silver Palate Cookbook by Sheila Lukins and Julee Rosso, first published in 1982. The book is famous for many innovative dinner party recipes with this dish a stand-out from that era. The dish fell out of favor but in recent times is making something of a comeback which is no surprise as it is not only super-easy to make, it is delicious.
The dish has a careful balance of sweetness (from the sugar and prunes) with the acidity of the vinegar and saltiness of the olives and capers which when served with either rice, pasta or even mashed potatoes to soak up the sauce is so good.
Nothing could be simpler to prepare, and a long marinate overnight (you can even get away with marinating in the morning and cooking that night but if you can leave it longer, do) all that is then left is to pop it in the oven to bake. No wonder this classic dish is making a comeback.
Ingredients
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Kosher salt, to taste
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Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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1/4 cup red wine vinegar
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2 tablespoons brine from the olives
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1/2 cup dry white wine
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1 tablespoon soft brown sugar
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1/2 cup green olives in brine, pitted
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1 cup prunes, pitted
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1/3 cup caper berries
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2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Sprinkle the Kosher salt and a few good grinds of black pepper onto your chopping board and spread. Press the chicken thighs, skin-side surface down into the salt and pepper then roll each thigh tight and place in a bowl.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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In another small bowl mix the garlic, vinegar, brine, wine and sugar and lightly whisk. Add the olives, prunes and capers, stir, then pour everything over the chicken thighs. Cover the dish tightly with plastic or wax wrap and place into the fridge to marinate overnight.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Preheat the oven to 350 F. When ready to cook, lift the thighs from the dish and pat dry with kitchen paper. Heat the oil in a frying pan until hot but not smoking.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Add the thighs and sear all over until the thighs are golden brown and slightly crisp on the skin-side surface.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Pack the browned thighs into shallow ovenproof baking then pour over the marinade, olives, prunes and capers. Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 45 minutes basting the chicken with the marinade from time to time. The marinade will reduce, and the chicken will turn dark golden and slightly caramelized.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Serve while piping hot with extra olives and capers on the side and rice, or a mixture of rice and quinoa, or pasta. The Chicken Marbella also works well with creamy mashed potatoes.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Seasoning Chicken Thighs
Seasoning chicken thighs, or any other meat by pressing into salt and pepper on the chopping board ensures the salt and pepper sticks to the meat rather than simply laying on the surface thus making a well-seasoned piece of meat.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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720 | Calories |
40g | Fat |
36g | Carbs |
54g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 4 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 720 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 40g | 52% |
Saturated Fat 10g | 52% |
Cholesterol 284mg | 95% |
Sodium 1635mg | 71% |
Total Carbohydrate 36g | 13% |
Dietary Fiber 5g | 16% |
Total Sugars 21g | |
Protein 54g | |
Vitamin C 2mg | 8% |
Calcium 76mg | 6% |
Iron 3mg | 18% |
Potassium 955mg | 20% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |