CHICKEN WITH SHALLOTS AND GRAPES

Do you like grapes?  I do.  Especially green seedless.  But have you ever cooked with grapes?  I hadn't until I tried this recipe.  I was surprised at how great they tasted.  The roasting seems to bring out the sweetness of the grapes.  It's a totally different flavor.  The only difference I made was I put handfuls of individual grapes in the pan and did not leave them on the stems in clusters.

I hope you try this.  I think you'll like it.

Chicken with Roasted Grapes and Shallots

Bon Appétit  | December 2009

by The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

  

photo by Lisa Hubbard

yield:  Makes 4 servings

active time:  15 minutes

total time:  1 hour 35 minutes 

This is an incredibly simple recipe with an impressive payoff: Golden roasted chicken is dressed up with beautiful bunches of sweet grapes.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 pounds assorted seedless grapes (such as green, red, and black), cut into small clusters
• 6 large shallots (about 10 ounces), peeled, halved through root end
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme plus 6 large sprigs
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 4-to 4 1/2-pound chicken, excess fat removed from cavity

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Gently toss grape clusters, shallots, chopped thyme, and 1 tablespoon olive oil in large bowl to coat. Rub chicken with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil; sprinkle inside and out with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place thyme sprigs in cavity. Place chicken in large roasting pan; arrange grape mixture around chicken. Roast until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken thigh registers 165°F and grapes are shriveled, about 1 hour 10 minutes.

Transfer chicken to platter; let rest 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, arrange grapes and shallots around chicken. Transfer pan juices to small pitcher; spoon fat from surface of juices and discard. Serve chicken with pan juices alongside. 

Per serving: 436.9 kcal calories, 45.1 % calories from fat, 21.9 g fat, 5.4 g saturated fat, 106.3 mg cholesterol, 25.9 g carbohydrates, 1.2 g dietary fiber, 18.5 g total sugars, 24.7 g net carbohydrates 34.6 g protein 

Nutritional analysis provided by Bon Appétit