Easy Mediterranean Chicken for Two

Chicken with prunes and olives is an amazingly tasty combo, give me a loud YUM!  An easy sweet and savory Mediterranean chicken for two is a perfect weekend meal. This Mediterranean olive chicken recipe was inspired by Ina Garten's Chicken Marabella recipe.  

Ingredients

• chicken quarters
• red wine
• brown sugar
• baby potatoes
• balsamic vinegar
• garlic
• olive oil
• oregano
• Prunes,
• Spanish olives
• capers
• salt and pepper to taste

Olives are Amazing

Spanish Olive used in this recipe is the same as Manzanilla olives and originally is from the Andalusia region of Spain.  These green olives have a smoky flavor and pair well with chicken dishes.

Prunes Taste Good!

Growing up, Prunes in the house meant someone was having an issue, and I stayed away from the shrivel fruit at all costs. I associated Prunes with well, I'll be honest, I associated prunes with being elderly.  The reality is prunes are flavorful and yes it has a few healthy side effects.  A sweet prune with something spicy like a caper and adding a tangy olive really is incredibly flavorful.

Instructions

Mix up the marinade and marinate the chicken overnight, the next day arrange the remaining ingredients and cook.  In about an hour, you have a stress-free and elegant dinner.   The recipe can be double to feed four.

Because of the marinating time required, this is not a last-minute dish. A little planning and a little time make for a flavorful and tender meal.

Cooking with few ingredients means you need to pick the right ingredient combinations to pack a flavor punch.  I start with a Greek olive medley, purchased fresh from the supermarkets olive bar, then select organic prunes from the USA and capers from Spain.  Cost Plus or Traders Joes is a great place to find small jars of capers.

The extra virgin olive oil you use should be a good quality. Wine used in the dish is the same wine I’ll pair with my meal.

 If your more of a white wine person then substitute white for red in the recipe.  Whichever wine you use will change the flavor slightly, the wine imparts a delicate flavor present in the wine.   No wine, no problem,  substitute chicken broth.

Dried Oregano purchased in small quantities ensures it’s always at peak flavor. 

I really love garlic, my recipes that include garlic will reflect that, feel free to cut back the garlic to your personal taste. 

Check the olive chicken to make sure it's fully cooked, I use a Thermopro instant-read thermometer.

Leftover potatoes are easily heated up eat in a skillet with a few sauteed onions and served with eggs for breakfast.

Olive arent only for dinner, try them in this Gruyere and Olive Quiche Recipe for a Simple Summer Meal