Chicken Thighs With Kumquats and Olives

Michael Solomonov makes chicken thighs with kumquats and olives with his audience in the first episode of the interactive digital series “Bringing Israel Home.” Courtesy of CookNSolo

Serves 4

1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, sliced
½ of a medium onion, sliced
1 teaspoon tomato paste
¼ cup chopped parsley
¼ cup chopped dill
½ cup chopped green olives
Juice of 1 lemon
12 fresh kumquats, halved
1 teaspoon sumac

1. Make Ahead: Mix the paprika, coriander, cumin, and kosher salt. Coat the chicken thighs in the spice mix, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight).

2. Take the chicken out of the refrigerator. Heat the olive oil in a sautée pan over medium heat. Place the chicken in the pan, skin-side down, and cook undisturbed until well-browned, approximately 10 minutes.

3. Remove the chicken from the pan and add the garlic and onion. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until softened. Add the tomato paste and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Add 1 cup of water to the pan and using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, scrape the bottom of the pan to release all of the good browned bits. Add the kumquats plus ½ of the parsley and dill. Place chicken, skin side up, back in the pan. Cover and simmer for another 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

4. Add the olives, lemon juice, and the remaining herbs to the pan and simmer for another 3 minutes to allow all the ingredients to come together.

5. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter. Spoon the sauce over top, sprinkle with sumac, and serve.

Find out more about Chef Michael Solomonov’s digital series “Bringing Israel Home” here.

Michael Solomonov is a James Beard Award-winning chef and co-owner of CookNSolo restaurant group, which includes Zahav, Abe Fisher, and Lazer Wolf. Recipe used with permission of CookNSolo and the Jewish Food Society.