One-pot dishes are all about planning well and laying out your prep in a smart sequential order. The beauty of this dish from A New Turn in the South (Clarkson Potter, 2011) by Top Chef judge and Georgia restaurateur Hugh Acheson is the vinegar, which is malty, nutty, and nuanced. Acheson recommends a Philippine cane vinegar called Datu Puti. Great stuff, super-inexpensive, and readily available at most Asian grocery stores.
Cane Vinegar Chicken with Pearl Onions, Orange & Spinach
Recipe from A New Turn in the South
Serves 2 as a big main course or 4 as a small one
4 chicken thighs, each weighing 5 to 6 ounces (total of 2½ pounds chicken thighs)
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
16 pearl onions, peeled
¼ teaspoon smoked hot paprika
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 cup cane vinegar
1 cup Chicken Stock
2 large navel oranges, cut into supremes
1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
2 cups cleaned spinach (stems removed)
Season the thighs with the salt and pepper.
In a wide, heavy-bottomed pot that has a lid, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the thighs, skin side down, and let them cook without moving them around for 7 minutes. You are encouraging good caramelization of the skin and developing a ton of flavor in the process. After 7 minutes turn the thighs over and add the onions, paprika, and garlic to the pot. Cook for 5 minutes and then add the vinegar, being careful not to let it flame up.
This is a good time to get a spatula and loosen up all of those pan drippings. The vinegar needs to cook down by half, and when it does, add the stock. Cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes over low heat, remove the lid, and add the oranges, mint, and spinach. Stir lightly and serve immediately.
