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Citrus-Ginger Chicken with Root Vegetables

This tangy dish has an unexpectedly sweet, zesty flavor that is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. I love serving this to company and seeing their surprise when they discover that they’ve been enjoying turnips and parsnips—vegetables with undeserved bad reputations. Personally, I prefer to leave the skins of the potatoes, parsnips, and turnips on and simply scrub them well and remove any eyes or bad spots. I try to use organic produce whenever possible, particularly when using whole fruit. Peeling is always optional in an infused one-pot meal, as vegetable skins add many vital nutrients. On the other hand, I prefer to eat chicken without the skin.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 2

Ingredients

Olive or canola oil spray
1 small orange, preferably organic
1 small lemon, preferably organic
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger, or 1 teaspoon ground
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 to 3/4 pound chicken thighs or breasts
1/2 sweet potato, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1/2 parsnip, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 turnip, cut into 1/4-inch slices
6 to 12 asparagus stalks, trimmed and cut into thirds, or 1/2 head broccoli, cut into florets (about 2 cups)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 450°F

    Step 2

    Spray the inside and lid of a cast-iron Dutch oven with olive or canola oil.

    Step 3

    Grate the zest from half of the orange and lemon into a small mixing bowl. Leave the end of the lemon intact. Add the ginger and honey to the bowl.

    Step 4

    Slice the orange and lemon in half and squeeze the juice from each scraped half into the bowl. Stir until the honey dissolves.

    Step 5

    Slice the remaining halves into thin rounds and arrange them in a single layer in alternating order (orange, lemon, orange, lemon, etc.) to cover the bottom of the pot. Use any remaining slices as a garnish when serving or save for another purpose.

    Step 6

    Arrange the chicken on top of the citrus rounds and pour half of the juice mixture over the chicken.

    Step 7

    Add the sweet potato, then the parsnip and turnip. Cover with the remainder of the juice mixture, making sure to include the bits of zest and ginger. Top with a final layer of the asparagus.

    Step 8

    Cover and bake for 45 minutes, or until 3 minutes after the aroma of a fully cooked meal escapes the oven. Serve immediately.

  2. nutrition information

    Step 9

    Calories: 320

    Step 10

    Protein: 31g

    Step 11

    Carbohydrates: 51g

    Step 12

    Fat: 4g

    Step 13

    Cholesterol: 81mg

    Step 14

    Sodium: 96mg

    Step 15

    Fiber: 10g

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