Pickle-Brined Chicken
Recipe from
Food & Wine
"When you have leftover pickle juice, isn't it a waste not to use it to make chicken taste delicious?" asks Frank Falcinelli. He brines chicken breast in dill-pickle juice to flavor it and keep it moist in the oven, then serves it on top of supertender leg meat he's shredded and mixed with sauteed chard.

Servings:
4
Prep Time:
1 hr 45 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 45 mins
Ingredients
-
4chicken breast halves, on the bone, plus 2 whole chicken legs (about 3/4 pound each)see savings

-
2 cupsbrine from jarred dill picklessee savings

-
Freshly ground black peppersee savings

-
Saltsee savings

-
1/4 cupplus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oilsee savings

-
3medium onions, thickly slicedsee savings

-
2carrots, thickly slicedsee savings

-
2celery ribs, thickly slicedsee savings

-
1/2 cupsemi-dry white wine. such as an off-dry Rieslingsee savings

-
2bay leavessee savings

-
1 tablespoonwhole black peppercornssee savings

-
4 cupschicken stock or low-sodium brothsee savings

-
2 poundsSwiss chard, thick stems and ribs removed, leaves coarsely shreddedsee savings

-
1large garlic clove, thinly slicedsee savings

Directions
1.
In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the chicken breasts with the pickle juice and a generous pinch of ground pepper. Seal the bag, pressing out any air, and refrigerate overnight.
2.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Season the chicken legs with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium enameled cast-iron casserole. Add the chicken legs and cook over moderate heat, turning once, until browned, about 12 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate. Add the onions, carrots, and celery to the casserole and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the wine, bay leaves, and peppercorns.
3.
Return the chicken legs to the casserole. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Cover and braise in the oven for about 1 hour, until the meat is very tender. Transfer the chicken legs to a plate to cool slightly. Pull the meat from the bones; discard the bones and skin. Strain the cooking liquid and wipe out the casserole. Return the cooking liquid to the pot and boil until the sauce is reduced to 1 cup, about 25 minutes; keep warm.
4.
Meanwhile, raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Pat the chicken breasts dry. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in an ovenproof skillet. Add the breasts, skin side down, and cook over high heat until golden, about 6 minutes. Turn and cook for 2 minutes longer. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast the chicken for about 25 minutes, until cooked through. Transfer the chicken breasts to a platter and let rest for 10 minutes.
5.
Wipe out the skillet and heat the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil until shimmering. Add the Swiss chard and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook over high heat, tossing, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the shredded leg meat and half of the sauce. Spoon the chard and chicken onto plates and serve with the seared breasts. Drizzle the remaining sauce all around and serve right away.
MAKE AHEAD
The braised chicken legs can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Add Your Review
Related Recipe
Articles
Chicken Breast is No Longer Best
... that's all about legs and thighs. Well, when it comes to chicken, anyway. The Wall Street Journal... meat," chicken company Bell & Evans owner Scott Sechler tells the newspaper. "It's getting worse every..., but I'd much rather have a bigger, less flavorful breast than know my dark meat came from a chicken... read more...
... that's all about legs and thighs. Well, when it comes to chicken, anyway. The Wall Street Journal... meat," chicken company Bell & Evans owner Scott Sechler tells the newspaper. "It's getting worse every..., but I'd much rather have a bigger, less flavorful breast than know my dark meat came from a chicken... read more...
Grilled Chicken with Oranges: Cooking with Kids
...I just got a new grill pan and planned to use it this weekend to make Grilled Lemon Chicken... the "real" grill and get some chicken marinating. I had some organic boneless chicken breasts in the fridge... a little something about the magic of pounding out chicken. I lined the counter with wax paper... read more...
...I just got a new grill pan and planned to use it this weekend to make Grilled Lemon Chicken... the "real" grill and get some chicken marinating. I had some organic boneless chicken breasts in the fridge... a little something about the magic of pounding out chicken. I lined the counter with wax paper... read more...
March Madness Chow: Chicken Wings
... (all eight of 'em). In our world that means plates piled high with chicken wings, meaty, spicy bites... in case. Check out our video "How to Make Buffalo Wings." You can make these Spicy BBQ Chicken Wings a..., and store-bought barbecue sauce makes them easy! Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings bring a little island flavor... read more...
... (all eight of 'em). In our world that means plates piled high with chicken wings, meaty, spicy bites... in case. Check out our video "How to Make Buffalo Wings." You can make these Spicy BBQ Chicken Wings a..., and store-bought barbecue sauce makes them easy! Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings bring a little island flavor... read more...

