Chicken with Preserved Meyer Lemon and Olives

By therman

Sunset

Ingredients

• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon hot paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs (4 or 5)
• 1 pinch saffron threads
• 1 large onion, coarsely shredded on a box grater
• 1 cup pitted green olives, such as Lucques* or picholine
• 2 pieces (1/2 lemon) Preserved Meyer Lemons sliced crosswise
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• Hot couscous

Preparation

Step 1

1. Mix garlic, ginger, paprika, cumin, pepper, and oil in a bowl. Ease fingers under chicken skin to loosen. Add chicken to bowl; rub garlic mixture under skin and all over outside. Chill, covered, overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 500°. In a small bowl, combine saffron with 2 tbsp. hot water and let sit 5 minutes. Set chicken, skin side up, in a deep 10-in. or regular 12-in. ovenproof frying pan. In same bowl used for chicken, combine onion, olives, and preserved lemon; put on top of chicken. Combine broth, saffron water, and turmeric in bowl and pour over chicken. Cover tightly with foil.

3. Braise chicken in oven, turning in sauce every 20 minutes, until tender when pierced, 60 to 70