Chicken En Escabeche With Purple Mashed Potatoes Recipe

By
Jennifer Olvera
Jennifer Olvera is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Jennifer Olvera
Jennifer Olvera is a Chicago-based food writer and cookbook author who has written eight cookbooks and contributed to Serious Eats, the Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, and others.
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Updated April 12, 2019
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This take on Rick Bayless' stunning chicken en escabeche combines an explosion of flavors with a blast of contrasting color. . Jennifer Olvera

A handful of things in life are perfect - you know, like Rick Bayless' tangy chicken en escabeche in Mexican Everyday. I've made it so many times, and it has never let me down. Tangy and fiery, and good warm or cold, it's a go-to worth keeping in your proverbial back pocket, especially since it's made from ingredients readily on hand.

Because it embodies so much of what I love in a dish—food that's rustic, satisfying and full of flavor—I toyed with it a bit. What I came up with is a bit more refined and company-worthy.

In my experience, chicken thighs, versus the original breasts, are not only more flavorful, but they also create a sauce that's more robust. By combining stovetop searing and an in-oven finish, the chicken skin stays crisp and glistening while the pan juices cook down and impart intense flavor to the carrots, jalapenos and onions. Swapping out a bit of the chicken broth for white wine adds another layer of acidity and added depth.

Served with purple, mashed jalapeno potatoes, this is a dish both easy and appropriate for visitors—and least ones able to handle a tingling tongue.

Note: The chicken can be made ahead and reheated in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes, but add a bit more liquid, as necessary, so the poultry and vegetables don't dry out.

Recipe Details

Chicken En Escabeche With Purple Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Active 25 mins
Total 60 mins
Serves 6 servings

Ingredients

  • For the Chicken:
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced on the bias at 1/4" intervals (about 4 cups)
  • 1 1/2 large white onions, slivered (about 2 cups)
  • 4 medium cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth
  • 6 canned, whole, pickled jalapenos, stemmed and chopped, divided use
  •  
  • For the Potatoes:
  • 1 1/2 pounds small, skin-on purple potatoes
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup whole milk
  • 2 ounces cream cheese

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Combine black pepper, allspice, oregano, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a small bowl. Season chicken liberally on all sides, using about half of the spice mixture and reserving the rest for later.

  2. Heat oil over medium-high heat in an oven-safe Dutch oven until shimmering. Place chicken in pan, skin-side down. Cook without moving until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Turn with spatulas and brown second side, about 4 minutes longer. Remove chicken from pan transfer to large plate. Add carrots and onions to the pan, scraping the bottom to dislodge browned bits. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly softened, about 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until softened, about 2 minutes longer.

  3. Add wine and scrape bottom of pan to dislodge any more browned bits. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and add cider vinegar, chicken broth and four jalapenos. Stir in remaining spice mixture. Return chicken to the pan, nestling thighs skin-side up in vegetables. Transfer to oven and cook uncovered until chicken is cooked through and liquid is mostly reduced, about 25 minutes.

  4. While chicken is cooking, cover potatoes in a large saucepan with cold water. Season generously with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook until fork tender, about 15 minutes after boil has been reached. Drain potatoes and return to pan. Add remaining two jalapenos, butter, sour cream, whole milk, and cream cheese. Mash with a potato masher or whip with a handheld mixer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  5. Serve chicken, vegetables and mashed potatoes family-style, or plate individually.

Special equipment

Dutch oven, hand-held mixer

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