Flavorful and Hearty Braised Chicken with Chayote
Cooked Chicken with Chayote Sautéed
Not familiar with chayote? This underrated gourd is about to become your new favorite! With a sweet, starchy, and slightly fruity taste, it adds a delightful twist to this effortless dish.
Ingredients:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (approximately 1 pound)
- 2 medium-sized chayotes, diced (approximately 1 pound) - alternatively, use squash or potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1.5 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
- Half a lemon
(Optional Aromatics: 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 sliced onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika)
Preparation:
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken thighs and chayotes with the olive oil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add the chicken (skin side down) and chayote pieces. Cook undisturbed for about 20 minutes, allowing the chicken skin to crisp and the chayote to turn golden brown. Flip the chicken over and sprinkle oregano over the chayote.
- Add the broth (avoiding the chicken skin) to the pan and cook uncovered for another 15 minutes, or until the chicken registers 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, the underside is browned, and the chayote is tender.
- Before serving, squeeze the lemon over the dish.
Enrichment:
This flavorful and hearty recipe combines the richness of chicken with the light freshness of chayote, creating a delicious and satisfying meal. If you want to enhance the aromatics, you can sauté onion, garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika in olive oil before cooking the chicken and chayote. You can also thicken the sauce for a richer taste by reducing the liquid or adding a bit of flour mixed with broth. Use potatoes or squash as a substitute if chayote is unavailable. Enjoy!
- For those unfamiliar with chayote, this recipe showcases its unique taste, a sweet, starchy, and slightly fruity delight, perfect for registering as a new favorite in your uncategorized recipes.
- The Braised Chicken with Chayote recipe is rich in nutrition, making it an excellent choice for females seeking hearty and flavorful meals.
- If you desire to add more depth to the dish, consider incorporating aromatics such as sautéed onion, garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika in olive oil before cooking the chicken and chayote.
- For those who cannot find chayote, the recipe can still be enjoyable with the use of squash or potatoes as an alternative.
