Chicken Sangria

This a special dish, and one of my favorites. I found it in a nineteenth-century cookbook from central Mexico, and it demonstrates the Spanish influence on upper-class Mexican cooking of that era. The chicken soaks overnight in a wine and citrus marinade and is served with a quickly made sauce, spiked with pomegranate juice. The sweet and salty garnishes are the perfect finish. In season, scatter a few tart pomegranate seeds over the chicken just before serving.

Cuisine

Mexican

Course

Main Course

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

30-60 min

Cooking Technique

Pressure Cook, Sauté

Keywords

30-60 min, 4 serving, bay leaf, black peppercorns, bone-in, butter, ceylon cinnamon stick, chicken broth, contributed, cook 24 min, coriander seeds, Deborah Schneider, easy, fruity red wine, garlic clove, green olives, kosher salt, lemon slices, main course, mexican, olive oil, orange slices, pomegranate juice, prep 15 min, pressure cook, raisins, red wine vinegar, sauté, skin-on chicken thighs, white or red onion slices, whole clove

Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

24 min

Servings

4 serving

Ingredients

1 cup fruity red wine
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
6 black peppercorns
6 coriander seeds
1 whole clove
1/2 bay leaf
1 Ceylon cinnamon stick
2 white or red onion slices
2 orange slices
2 Lemon slices
1 tsp kosher salt
3 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup pomegranate juice
1 garlic clove
3 orange slices
2 tbsp raisins
4 large Green Olives
2 tsp butter

Instructions

To make the marinade: In a small saucepan, combine the wine, vinegar, peppercorns, coriander seeds, clove, bay, cinnamon, onion, orange slices, lemon slices, and salt. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat, and let stand for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse.
Place the chicken in a large bowl and pour the marinade on top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Just before cooking, remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Pour the marinade through a wire-mesh strainer set over a bowl; discard the solids in the strainer.
Press Sauté—high on the Instant Pot and heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Working in batches, add the chicken in a single layer and cook until well browned on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a large plate. After all the chicken has been browned, season the skin sides with the salt.
Add the strained marinade, the broth, pomegranate juice, and garlic to the pot. Bring to a boil and cook, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot, until reduced by about half, 3 to 5 minutes. Place the wire metal steam rack in the Instant Pot, then place the chicken skin side up on the rack in an even layer, over the cooking liquid.
Secure the lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Press Meat/Stew, then set the cooking time for 20 minutes.
While chicken is cooking, in a medium skillet, heat the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the orange slices and cook for about 1 minute, until lightly browned and softened. Transfer to a plate. Add the raisins to the skillet and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, then add the olives and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds more. Transfer to the plate with the orange slices. Reserve the skillet for reducing the sauce.
When the cooking program is complete, press Cancel,. Perform a quick pressure release by moving the Pressure Release to Venting,. Open the pot and let cool for 10 minutes.
Preheat the broiler with a rack positioned about 6 inches below the element.
Using tongs, transfer the chicken skin side up in a single layer to a broiler-safe serving dish. Pat the skin dry with paper towels, then broil for 4 to 6 minutes, until the skin is browned and crisp.
While the chicken broils, pour the cooking liquid through a wire-mesh strainer into the reserved skillet. Set the pan over high heat and cook until for 1 to 3 minutes, until the liquid thick, syrupy, and reduced to about 3/4 cup. Stir in the butter (if using). Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt if needed.
Pour a small amount of the sauce around the chicken and top the chicken with the sautéed orange slices, raisins, and olives. Serve right away and offer the remaining the sauce on the side.