Clean Eating

Lemon Honey Roasted Chicken

Chicken leg quarters are a great addition to the home cook’s weekend repertoire. They’re economical, and I often find them more flavorful than boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

I first came across this recipe in the Washington Post while reading an account of the challenges of cooking and eating in a home you’re trying to sell (nix garlic and pungent foods; bake some cookies!). Indeed, two of the best parts of this recipe: it doesn’t use a lot of dishes, and it makes the house smell divine. Leftovers make for a great lunch.

The original recipe calls for chicken drumsticks and thighs, which I would use when feeding a group or kids; when cooking for one or two people, leg quarters seem a little less fussy to me. The original also uses haricot verts, which are green beans’ skinnier, more delicate (and more expensive) cousin. Use them if you can find them, but green beans are a fine substitute.

The Post suggests serving it with crusty bread for soaking up pan juices. I also like it with potatoes or sweet potatoes, or a green salad.

Lemon Honey Roasted Chicken

Adapted from The Washington Post, April 11, 2012

Freshly squeezed juice of 2 lemons (1/3 to 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup honey, divided

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

3 cloves garlic, minced (optional)

3 Tablespoons olive oil

4 chicken leg quarters

Kosher or sea salt and black pepper

1/4 cup cool water

12 oz. green beans (or use harictos verts, if you can find them)

Combine the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the honey, the oregano, garlic and oil in a gallon-sized resealable plastic food storage bag. Massage the bag from the outside to combine the contents. Add the chicken; season with salt and pepper to taste. Seal the bag, pressing as much air out as possible. Massage to work the marinade into the chicken. Let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour (refrigerate if desired).

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Have a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or roasting pan at hand.

Arrange the chicken pieces skin side up in the pan, keeping as much of the marinade on them as possible. Discard the remaining marinade. Pour the water around the chicken. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of honey evenly over the chicken. Roast for 45 minutes, turning the dish or pan from front to back halfway through the cooking. The chicken should be cooked through and browned in spots.

Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Blanch the green beans for about 1 minute, then drain and rinse under cool water to stop any carryover cooking.

Add the haricots verts to the baking dish or pan, snuggling them into the pan juices and around the chicken in small bunches. Return to the oven and roast for 5 minutes.

Fig, Strawberry and Goat Cheese Salad

Up to this point, I’d eaten fresh figs exactly once in my life: when the “gourmet fruit of the month” a vendor sends to my office was black mission figs. I managed to snag a couple of those plum beauties, and I could immediately see why my fellow foodies were so enamored. That was nearly a year ago, and I hadn’t seen figs in a grocery store since.

Until Sunday, that is, when I walked into Trader Joe’s, with crate after crate of figs, both black and green. I picked up a container of black mission figs, along with a package of goat cheese. That night, I sliced up a few, topped them with a few crumbles of cheese and a dot of honey, and threw them under a broiler for a couple minutes. Divine and devoured.

For the next two days, they were the highlight of my lunch, in salad form. I packed the ingredients in separate containers and tossed them together on a paper plate from the kitchen at work. I didn’t have any walnuts or pecans on hand, but they would make a great addition, both for flavor and texture. Grilled chicken would make this a great entree salad.

Fig, Strawberry and Goat Cheese Salad for One

4-6 fresh figs, sliced in half, stems removed

1/2 cup sliced strawberries

1 oz goat cheese, crumbled

4 cups baby spinach

1 T balsamic vinaigrette (or your favorite dressing) – adjust to your personal preference

Toss all ingredients. Serve immediately.

Apricot Compote

I love apricots. They’re harder to find — and, I think, a bit more glamorous — than peaches and other stone fruits. Perhaps it’s because their season is so fleeting, for a few weeks in July.

This simple recipe uses just three ingredients: apricots, lime juice and sugar. It’s delicious on its own or paired with Greek yogurt or ice cream. Many dessert, white and rose wines have apricot in their flavor profile; this dessert would pair beautifully with them. If your breakfast routine includes oatmeal, try a couple of these babies on top tomorrow.

Apricot Compote

Adapted from Bon Appetit

1 lb firm, ripe apricots, halved and pitted

3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 Tablespoons sugar (or to taste)

Combine apricots, lime juice, and sugar in a large skillet. Cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until apricots are glazed and syrupy, 7-8 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and chill.

DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.