Description
A delicious and unique dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked with a vibrant blueberry sauce infused with fresh thyme, fennel, and maple syrup. This recipe balances savory and sweet flavors, creating a beautifully glazed chicken perfect for a cozy dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into smaller pieces if required
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper (optional)
Blueberry Sauce
- 1.5 cups blueberries
- ½ small white onion, diced
- 1 small fennel, diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced or finely diced
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) to prepare for baking the chicken later in the recipe.
- Prepare Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into smaller pieces if needed. Season them with salt and black pepper if using. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Fry Chicken: Fry the chicken pieces in the skillet, cooking each side until lightly golden brown. This will take about 10-12 minutes depending on the size of the fillets. You may need to do this in batches if your skillet is small. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: Reduce the skillet heat to low. In the same skillet, add the remaining olive oil and sauté the diced onion and fennel until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add Blueberry Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the garlic, blueberries, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Bring this mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for approximately 10 minutes, until the blueberries break down and the sauce thickens to about half liquid consistency. Press down lightly with a spoon if needed, being cautious of splatters.
- Assemble and Bake: Place the fried chicken pieces into an ovenproof dish. Spoon the prepared blueberry sauce evenly over the chicken.
- Bake Chicken: Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, ensuring the chicken is cooked through.
Notes
- Cut the chicken breasts into smaller fillets if required to ensure even cooking.
- When heating the blueberry mixture, press the berries gently with a spoon to help them break down but be careful of splattering sauce.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the chicken’s internal temperature at the thickest part; it should read 165°F for safe consumption.
- Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken pieces and the heat of your stove and oven.
- Nutritional information is an estimate and should be used as a guideline only.
