Recipe: Balsamic & Mustard Glazed Chicken Thighs and Figs
Lean into fresh fig season while you can — it’s slow to arrive and quick to leave. If you’re lucky enough to live in a region where they are easy to come by, you likely already know this and are eating them by the handful. For the rest of us, where the arrival of figs means only displays of pints from California at the grocery store, we often don’t know the glories because frankly, those shipped containers just aren’t as good. But this recipe lets the rest of us play along, because it transforms even those subpar fresh figs into something wonderful.
The Delight of Caramelized Figs
Figs take to caramelization exceptionally well. Give them a little sugar to play with — in this case sticky balsamic vinegar and honey — and they improve instantly. This is especially important for those figs that might not have reached optimal ripeness and aren’t as naturally jammy as they could be.
Pair them with rich, extra-crispy-skinned chicken thighs and you’ve got a seasonal dinner that’s just a little sweet but exceptionally savory, thanks to zippy Dijon, plenty of garlic, and fresh sage.
Balsamic & Mustard Glazed Chicken Thighs and Figs
Serves 4 to 6
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup
balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons
Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons
olive oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon
honey
- 1 tablespoon
coarsely chopped fresh sage leaves
- 2 cloves
garlic, minced
- 2 pounds
bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (4 to 6)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
- 8
fresh figs, halved or quartered if large
Instructions
Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F.
To make the glaze, whisk the vinegar, mustard, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, honey, sage, and garlic together in a small bowl; set aside.
Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season on both sides with salt and pepper.
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large cast iron or oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering but not smoking. Add the chicken skin-side down and cook until the fat is rendered and the skin is crisp and golden-brown, adjusting the heat if the skin begins to burn, 6 to 8 minutes.
Flip the chicken thighs and scatter the figs around them. Carefully pour the glaze evenly over the chicken and figs. Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook, spooning some of the glaze in the skillet back over the chicken halfway through, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, 10 to 12 minutes total. Serve the chicken with the sauce.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.