Yogurt- and Mint-Marinated Chicken Thighs With Pickled Nectarines Recipe

Chicken thighs are marinated in an aromatic mixture of yogurt and mint, then gently roasted and served with quick-pickled nectarines for a light, complex summer meal.

By Nik Sharma
Updated October 16, 2023
Overhead view of yogurt- and mint-marinated chicken thighs, served on a white plate with quick-pickled nectarine segments.

Serious Eats / Nik Sharma

Why It Works

  • A yogurt marinade both tenderizes and seasons the chicken thighs.
  • Blending the mint into the marinade creates a vibrant green color and produces incredible aroma.
  • Gently roasting the chicken thighs preserves the color of the marinade.
  • Quick-pickling the stone fruit adds complexity of flavor to the finished plate.

I often use this yogurt marinade at home, and it works equally well with boneless, skinless chicken breasts as it does with the boneless, skinless chicken thighs I call for here. Made from just a few ingredients, it’s quite aromatic and very flavorful, and offers a plethora of sensations, from the cool notes of mint to the warmer flavors provided by the garlic, ginger, chile pepper, and black peppercorns.

Part of why I like this preparation is its color and aroma, and I’ve found that the gentle cooking called for in this recipe helps to preserve the vibrant green of the marinade. While a little browning occurs on the edges of the pieces of chicken, browning and/or charring is not the goal. If you’d like to have your chicken browned a bit more, you can remove the chicken earlier than is called for and then slide the pieces under the broiler to finish cooking while developing a pronounced char, but I find this unnecessary.

You can take advantage of the gentle tenderizing effect of lactic acid in this marinade to plan ahead of time during a busy week. Combine the chicken with the marinade, divide it up into smaller portions in smaller ziptop bags or airtight, freezer-safe containers, and freeze the portions for up to 2 weeks. When ready to use, pull a bag out of the freezer, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and then proceed with the recipe as written.

I like to serve the chicken with quick-pickled nectarines, which take just a few minutes to prepare, although they’re best if you allow them to sit in the spiced honey-and-vinegar mixture for about an hour before serving. Use ripe but firm nectarines; if the fruit is too soft, the combined action of the acid, honey, and salt will make the fruit fall apart quickly. (You can also use other fresh stone fruit, such as peaches or plums.

August 2020

Recipe Details

Yogurt- and Mint-Marinated Chicken Thighs With Pickled Nectarines Recipe

Prep 15 mins
Cook 35 mins
Active 15 mins
Marinating Time 2 hrs
Total 2 hrs 50 mins
Serves 4 to 8 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (1 3/4 pounds; 800g)

  • 1 1/2 cups (13 1/2 ounces; 380g) plain unsweetened yogurt (see note)

  • 6-7 scallions (3 1/2 ounces; 100g), root ends trimmed and discarded

  • 1 packed cup mint leaves and stems (3/4 ounce; 20g)

  • 12 whole black peppercorns

  • 4 medium garlic cloves (1/2 ounce; 15g), peeled

  • 2 tablespoons (1 ounce; 30g) grated fresh ginger

  • 1 small fresh green chile, such as Serrano or Thai chile (see note)

  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt; if using table salt, use half as much by volume

  • Neutral cooking spray oil, such as canola

  • Lemon or lime wedges, for serving

For the Pickled Nectarines:

  • 2 teaspoons coriander seeds

  • 1/4 cup (60ml) apple cider vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) honey

  • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; if using table salt, use half as much by volume

  • 1 teaspoon red chile flakes, such as Urfa or Aleppo

  • 2 ripe but firm yellow nectarines (about 15 ounces; 420g)

  • 2 tablespoons picked thyme leaves and very tender stems

Directions

  1. To Marinate the Chicken: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, score the top side of the chicken thighs 2 or 3 times, then prick all over with a fork. Place the chicken in a baking dish, ziptop bag, or a food-safe storage container with a lid.

    Overhead view of author scoring chicken thighs and transferring them to a baking dish.

    Serious Eats / Nik Sharma

  2. In a blender, combine yogurt, scallions, mint, peppercorns, garlic, ginger, chile, turmeric, and salt. Pulse until very smooth. Pour the yogurt mixture all over the chicken, then gently toss to coat well. Cover the container or seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

    Overhead view of author pouring marinade onto chicken thighs from the blender.

    Serious Eats / Nik Sharma

  3. To Pickle the Nectarines: Heat a small dry skillet over medium heat. Add the coriander seeds to the hot skillet and toast until the seeds become fragrant and start to darken slightly, about 1 minute. Transfer toasted coriander seeds to a mortar and pestle and crush to a coarse powder.

    Ground coriander in a mortar.

    Serious Eats / Nik Sharma

  4. In a medium bowl, whisk the vinegar, honey, and salt until combined. Stir in the chile flakes and coriander powder.

  5. Cut the nectarines in half and remove and discard the stone. Cut the nectarines into thin segments and add them to the vinegar mixture along with the thyme. Stir to coat the fruit well. Cover with a lid and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day before serving.

    Nectarine segments are pickled in a bowl.

    Serious Eats / Nik Sharma

  6. To Cook the Chicken: When ready to cook, adjust oven rack to middle position and heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray the foil with a little oil. Spread the marinated thighs over the prepared baking sheet, 4 pieces per sheet. Bake the chicken until an instant-read thermometer registers 175°F (79°C) in the thickest part of the thighs and the edges are slightly browned, about 30 minutes. Remove the chicken, cover, and let it stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serve the chicken with the pickled nectarines on the side.

    Overhead view of the sheet pan of gently roasted chicken thighs, fresh from the oven.

Special Equipment

Blender or immersion blender, mortar and pestle, rimmed baking sheets, instant-read thermometer

Notes

If using Greek yogurt, use half as much yogurt and substitute half with water.

For a stronger kick of heat, double the amount of chile pepper in the recipe.

Make-Ahead and Storage

The chicken can be frozen in its marinade for up to 2 weeks. The quick-pickled nectarines are best eaten the day they're made, but they keep for up to 1 day if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
255Calories
9gFat
18gCarbs
28gProtein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories255
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g11%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Cholesterol 125mg42%
Sodium 663mg29%
Total Carbohydrate 18g7%
Dietary Fiber 2g9%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 28g
Vitamin C 16mg81%
Calcium 131mg10%
Iron 2mg13%
Potassium 614mg13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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