A long time ago in a galaxy far away, I catered a lot of weddings. One dish that made its way onto almost every menu was my version of The Silver Palate Cookbook’s Chicken Marbella. Chicken Marbella was perhaps the signature dish from this hugely successful cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins.
The Silver Palate’s Chicken Marbella is prepared similarly to a tagine. Chicken pieces (bone-in, skin-on) are marinated overnight then cooked in the marinade with prunes, olives, and capers. Bone-in, skin-on chicken is delicious but messy, and I needed a version that could be eaten gracefully by someone holding a small plate at a wedding reception or cocktail party. So I adapted the recipe and came up with something different, but equally as good. Many times as I worked the buffet, refilling platters and clearing dishes, I’d hear someone in line say, “this is the best chicken I have ever tasted.” Music to my ears after working for three days straight to prep for a wedding.
The chicken is lightly sweet, yet tangy. Surrounded by prunes, apricots, and green olives, seasoned with oregano and parsley. Chicken Breast Marbella can be reheated in the marinade or served cold or at room temperature. Personally, I like to eat it cold.
The recipe below will serve 12, but it can easily be doubled tripled, quadrupled… just make sure you have enough refrigeration space to hold the chicken while it marinates.
Chicken Breast Marbella
Ingredients
- 6 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 cup white wine
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup dried pitted prunes, cut in half
- 1/2 cup dried apricots, cut in half
- 1/2 cup pitted Spanish green olives
- 1/2 cup capers and a little juice
- 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
- 1/8 cup dried oregano
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
COOK THE CHICKEN:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Spray the pan with a little olive oil non-stick spray (or brush lightly with olive oil) and place three of the chicken breasts in the pan. Cook the chicken until it begins to brown, about 2 minutes, then turn and lightly brown them on the other side.
- Remove chicken to a baking sheet lined with foil (the chicken will not be fully cooked at this point).
- Wipe out the pan if necessary, then repeat the browning process with the remaining three chicken breasts.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the chicken just until it is cooked through. (Test by cutting into a piece or using a meat thermometer – chicken should be 165 degrees). Be careful not to overcook the chicken or it will be dry. When the chicken is fully cooked, remove from the oven to cool.
PREPARE THE MARINADE:
- In a large saucepan, combine the red wine vinegar, olive oil, white wine, brown sugar, prunes, dried apricots, Spanish olives, capers, garlic, and oregano. Heat the marinade to a boil and cook for one minute more. Stir in the parsley and remove from heat.
SLICE THE CHICKEN & ADD THE MARINADE:
- Slice each chicken breast diagonally into thin strips. Place the chicken into a glass or ceramic casserole or other dish with sides, and pour the marinade over the chicken. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to two days.
SERVE:
- Chicken Breast Marbella can be reheated before serving covered tightly with foil or a lid. Or, serve it cold or at room temperature.
