Lemon chicken makeover: A zesty twist for juicy results
I've discovered something exciting for chicken enthusiasts tired of the usual oven-baked drumsticks. You might think these ingredients don't seem like a natural match, but trust me—this chicken is a true masterpiece. It pairs wonderfully with rice and a fresh vegetable salad. It's light, juicy, and perfect.
Lemon chicken is a refreshing variety in the kitchen. Its aroma invigorates the senses, and the citrus adds a slightly tangy flavor, giving the meat a light, refreshing quality. Baking the meat in white wine positively affects its texture.
Drumsticks, breasts, or whole?
You can prepare chicken drumsticks, wings, or breasts in a lemon marinade. Alternatively, you can bake it whole, but in this case, browning the meat in garlic olive oil will be challenging.
The choice of chicken parts depends on your taste and the sides you plan to serve it with. If the lemon chicken is intended to be a component of a salad, opt for breasts. For dinner dishes, drumsticks work better.
Drumsticks contain more fat than breasts, and fat is a flavor carrier. Additionally, when baked with the skin on, they retain all the flavors from the marinade inside.
How to make a lemon chicken marinade?
Here are the proportions for 12 chicken drumsticks:
Combine 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of dried thyme, 1 tablespoon of grated ginger, 1 tablespoon of honey, juice from half a lemon, salt, and pepper in a dish.
Thoroughly rub the meat with this marinade and place it in a sealed container or a zip-lock bag. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Should you brown the chicken before baking? It's worth it; it will be juicier
Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and sauté cloves peeled from 1 head of garlic in it. Be cautious with the heat. Burnt garlic is bitter in taste. Remove the garlic, and brown the chicken in the oil—just 2-3 minutes on each side. You can then place the prepared meat in a baking dish.
Lemon chicken from the oven
Pour 1 cup of dry white wine into the pan with the remnants of olive oil and chicken marinade. Cover the prepared drumsticks for baking with this marinade. Add the sautéed garlic cloves and half a lemon sliced. Place in an oven preheated to 390 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 30 minutes uncovered.
Serve with rice, roasted potatoes, fresh vegetables, or slaw with young cabbage.
