Roasted Spiced Chicken with Cinnamon- and Honey-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
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.
Ingredients:
For the Chicken:
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, chopped
3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp allspice berries, ground in spice mill or coffee grinder
1 Tbsp chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 1/2 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 Scotch bonnet chile or habanero chile, seeded, minced
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
4 whole chicken leg-thigh pieces (about 2 1/4- 2 1/2 lbs)
2 Tbsp olive oil
For the Sweet Potatoes:
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 Tbsp (1/4 stick) butter, melted
2 Tbsp hone
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 lbs red-skinned sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/3-inch thick rounds
Mango chutney
Instructions:
For the chicken:
Place onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, honey, ground allspice, chopped fresh ginger, chopped fresh thyme, salt, ground black pepper, seeded and minced chile, cinnamon, and nutmeg in processor. Puree marinade until coarse paste forms. Place chicken in large resealable plastic bag. Add marinade to chicken in bag and seal. Turn chicken to coat. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight, turning chicken occasionally.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange chicken pieces, with marinade still clinging to chicken, on rimmed baking sheet. Brush chicken with oil. Roast until cooked through, about 45 minutes.
For Sweet Potatoes:
Spray another rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Whisk butter, honey, lime juice, and ground cinnamon in large bowl. Add potato slices, and toss to coat. Arrange potato slices in single layer on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake potatoes alongside chicken until tender, about 25 minutes. Serve chicken with potatoes, passing mango chutney separately.
Serves 4.
From Bon Appetit, May 2006.