Chicken Thighs with Rhubarb-Cucumber Salsa

This Caribbean pepper is famous for being the hottest chile pepper in the world. They come in a variety of shapes and colors(yellow, orange,green, red,chocolate). Not only are they extremely hot, but they also have a unique,distinctively fruity flavor.

It is the key ingredient in the popular Jamaican Jerk sauce. The habanero is also widely used in many different types of hot sauces. The popularity of this chile pepper continues to grow and is becoming easier to find on the grocery shelf.

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Ingredients:

1 habañero, Scotch bonnet, or Thai chile, with seeds, stemmed
2 garlic cloves
2 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts divided
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
6 large skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, or 4 whole legs
Kosher salt
1 1/2 cups 1/4-inch cubes rhubarb
1 cup 1/4-inch cubes unpeeled seeded English cucumber
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 500°. Line a baking sheet with foil. Pulse chile, garlic, and white parts of scallions in a food processor until finely chopped. Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula. With the machine running, drizzle in soy sauce, then olive oil; process until an emulsion forms. Transfer sauce to a bowl. Place chicken thighs, skin side up, on a work surface and slash each crosswise at 3/4-inch intervals down to the bone. Season generously with salt. Place on prepared baking sheet and brush with sauce. Bake until the skin is crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165°, 20–25 minutes. Broil on high for an additional 2–3 minutes for crisper skin, if desired. Let rest for 5–10 minutes.

Meanwhile, toss the rhubarb, cucumber, cilantro, honey, oil, lime juice, and green parts of scallions in a medium bowl to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper and let stand for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve chicken with rhubarb salsa alongside.

Serves 4-6.

From yumsugar.com