| Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 30 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 365 | 11g | 3g | 32g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 28g | 3g | 31g | 0.3g |
As a native Texan, the marriage of Mexican and Southern flavors holds a special place in my heart.
Yet, looking a tad further afield, a dish that’s truly been capturing my heart and feeding my culinary curiosity lately is the Chicken with Satsuma and Honey Glaze.
This vibrant dish takes a detour from the comforts of Southern cuisine and ventures towards an equally tantalizing combination of flavors: a fresh, fruit-infused glaze nestled over succulent chicken. Now, you might think the fruit-glaze-on-chicken concept isn’t groundbreaking, but once you’ve tasted it, marinated in honey and exquisitely tart satsuma oranges, you’ll quickly realize why it’s a revelation.
The Inspiration Behind Chicken with Satsuma and Honey Glaze
The Tex-Mex experience lends itself nicely to bold adventures in other culinary realms, and the Chicken with Satsuma and Honey Glaze is testament to that. In its heart, it keeps the principle of combining sweet and slightly tangy elements – think honey and satsumas instead of the staple barbeque sauce and coleslaw you’d find in a classic Texan sandwich.
It’s an edgy yet friendly departure from the Tex-Mex tradition, a meeting of worlds that will have your taste buds dancing.
Healthy Aspects of the Recipe
Besides the bursting flavors, there are plenty of health benefits hidden in this dish. Satsuma oranges, the recipe’s gamechanger, are rich in vitamin C, essential for boosting our immune system. Honey, on the other hand, is known for its antioxidant properties. Paired with lean poultry like chicken, this meal is nutritional, flavorful, and low on guilt! All factors that make it figure-friendly and suitable for portion control diets.
Does this recipe remind you of something? If your answer is “orange chicken”, you’re on the right track. However, make no mistake, this is not your typical take-out dish. The use of satsuma and honey gives it a unique, fancier profile. But, if you’d like to maintain the Asian-inspired theme for your meal, you can pair the dish with baked brown rice or a sesame slaw.
Apart from the experience of savoring the dish, as a teacher it’s equally satisfying to know that I’m introducing my students to healthy, unique meals they might not usually encounter in their regular diet. Plus, a fun fact to entertain my grade school students; do you know that the Satsuma orange is named after the former Satsuma Province in Japan? How about that for a geography lesson mixed into your meal!
What You’ll Need
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 Satsuma oranges
- 1 cup of honey
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1/2 cup of chicken broth
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon of dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon of grated Satsuma orange zest
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Method
Step One
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is heating up, season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
Step Two
Next, heat the olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts. Cook the chicken until it is golden brown on both sides, which should take about 4-5 minutes per side. When the chicken is browned, remove it from the skillet and set it aside.
Step Three
While the chicken is cooling, peel the Satsuma oranges and separate them into segments. Reserve the zest from one of the oranges for later use.
Step Four
Remove the skillet from the heat, then add the garlic and rosemary to the pan. Cook them in the residual heat of the pan until they become fragrant, which should take less than a minute.
Step Five
Add the chicken broth to the skillet and bring it to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer the broth for about 2-3 minutes until it reduces slightly.
Step Six
Stir in the honey and the Satsuma orange zest, then return the chicken to the pan, nestling it in the sauce. Arrange the Satsuma orange segments around the chicken.
Step Seven
Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake the chicken for about 15-20 minutes, or until it’s cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step Eight
Remove the skillet from the oven and let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve it up. Enjoy!
