RFCJ RECIPE ARCHIVE
Posted by : Ruth Heiges Chicken with Fresh Figs - meat
I must confess I've been slow in developing a taste for figs, but my attitude is changing. For many years, the fig trees in Israel were affected by a blight, so it was rare to see fresh ones on the market. This is changing, however, and they are becoming far more freely available. This is, indeed, the season for them, so it is no wonder that figs are traditional for Sukkot, which is, after all, the autumn-harvest festival. The following is from Zillah Bahar's column in the Jewish Bulletin of Northern California; May 9, 1997. Ruth "The Chicken with Fresh Figs is a Mediterranean-style dish from "The Elegant Peasant" by Marguerite Thomas (St. Martin's Press, 1986. "The combination of the fruit and fresh basil is disarming, yet it makes complete sense on the palate." --Zillah Bahar CHICKEN WITH FRESH FIGS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serves 4 2 boneless chicken breasts, about 1-1/2 pounds 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup white wine 1/2 cup port 2 Tablespoons minced fresh basil 4 fresh figs, cut lengthwise into quarters Cut chicken breasts in half and remove all the skin and fat. Cover each piece with wax paper or plastic wrap and pound them with a kitchen mallet or other heavy object (such as a sturdy tumbler) until they are about 1/2-inch thick. Add olive oil to a skillet. Add the chicken and cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes, or until chicken turns white on the bottom. Turn and cook on the other side for another couple of minutes. Add white wine, then cover skillet and simmer 7 to 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken to a platter and reserve. Raise heat under skillet and boil contents, stirring frequently, until reduced by about half. Add port and basil and continue cooking over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes, or until the liquid has slightly reduced. Return chicken breasts to pan, reheat thoroughly, then arrange them on a platter. Garnish with quartered figs and pour sauce all over. Advanced preparation: Chicken may be cooked an hour or two in advance, then reheated and garnished with figs at the last minute. May 9, 1997 www.shamash.org/jb/bk970509/cook.htm Copyright Notice (c) 1997, San Francisco Jewish Community Publications Inc., dba Jewish Bulletin of Northern California.
