Lemon-infused chicken: A zesty twist on classic comfort
I have discovered something exciting for chicken enthusiasts who are tired of traditional oven-baked drumsticks. At first glance, these ingredients might seem mismatched, but trust me – this chicken is a true masterpiece. It pairs exceptionally well with rice and a salad of fresh vegetables. It's light, juicy, and perfect.
Lemon chicken offers a delightful variety in the kitchen. Its aroma stimulates the senses, and the addition of citrus imparts slightly tangy notes to the meat, creating a feeling of lightness. Baking the meat in white wine positively influences its texture.
Drumsticks, breasts, or whole?
You can prepare chicken drumsticks, wings, or breasts in a lemon marinade. You can also bake it whole, but with this method, browning the meat in garlic olive oil will be challenging.
The choice of chicken parts depends on your taste and the sides you aim to serve it with. If the lemon chicken is intended to be part of a salad, opt for breasts. For supper dishes, drumsticks will be more suitable.
Drumsticks contain more fat than breasts, and fat enhances flavour. Additionally, baking with the skin on helps retain everything absorbed from the marinade.
How to make a lemon chicken marinade?
Here are the proportions for 12 chicken drumsticks:
Pour 3 tablespoons of olive oil into a dish, add 1 tablespoon of dried thyme, 1 tablespoon of grated ginger, a tablespoon of honey, juice from half a lemon, salt, and pepper.
Rub the meat thoroughly with this marinade and place it in a sealed container or a zip-lock bag. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Should you brown the chicken before baking? It’s worth it, as it will be juicier
Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and sauté cloves peeled from 1 head of garlic in it. Be careful with the heat. Burnt garlic turns bitter. Remove the garlic, and brown the chicken in the oil – just 2-3 minutes on each side. You can then place the prepared meat in a baking dish.
Lemon chicken from the oven
Pour 250 ml of dry white wine into the pan with the residual olive oil and chicken marinade. Cover the prepared drumsticks for baking with this marinade. Add sautéed garlic cloves and half a lemon sliced. Place it in an oven preheated to 200 degrees Celsius. Bake for 30 minutes uncovered.
Serve with rice, roasted potatoes, fresh vegetables, or slaw with young cabbage.
