Oven-Baked Chicken With Kiwi Sauce

There it was, staring back at me day in and day out until it was past its prime. There are many ways I can think of to clear away overripe fruits. Smoothies and popsicles come to mind, but I think I'll go with gravy for a chicken dish this time. That's where my semi-squishy kiwi fruits went after a long period of sitting in the refrigerator.

Oven-Baked Chicken With Kiwi Sauce

This is fairly easy to cook. A recipe for two.

Flavour-wise, it's a sourish sauce with a mild sweet-savoury take which, for me, was perfect with the salted chicken.

Oven-Baked Chicken With Kiwi Sauce
Ingredients:
- 2 whole chicken leg
- 320g cauliflower (cut into large florets)
- 3 overripe kiwi fruits (cubed)
- 15g cold butter (cubed)
- 1 tsp chopped fresh coriander
- Chilli flakes (several dashes)
- 1 tsp corn starch (mixed with 1 tbsp water)
- ¼ cup water
- Salt and sugar to taste

How-to:
The chicken
1) Rub the chicken with salt and chilli flakes.
2) Bake it in a pre-heated oven on a foil-lined (lightly oiled) baking tray, until cooked. 30minutes at 180C worked for me.

The gravy
1) Remove the chicken from the oven. Transfer the juices accumulated on the baking tray onto the cooking pan. I got about 2 tbsp of juice. Alternatively, you may use a bit of cooking oil. 
2) Heat the cooking pan up. Add the kiwi fruit. Stir for a bit.
3) Add water. Season with ½ tsp sugar and a pinch of salt (to preference). Stir to combine and allow to come to a boil.
4) Switch the heat off. Stir in the corn starch mixture to thicken the sauce.

The cauliflower
1) Steam the cauliflower until cooked. Drain any water there is and transfer it into a bowl.
2) Add the butter, chopped coriander and a sprinkle of salt. Toss gently to coat.

To plate
1) Serve the chicken with steamed cauliflower. Pour the kiwi sauce over the chicken.

1) Season chicken with salt and chilli flakes. 2) Steam the cauliflower.
3) Ingredients - kiwi, coriander, butter, starch. 4) Roasting the chicken.

1) Toss steamed cauliflower in butter, salt and fresh coriander.
2) Steamed cauliflower dish is ready to be served.
3) Cooking kiwi with chicken juices.
4) Adding corn starch to thicken. 5) Plate!

Note: The kiwi fruits that I used in this recipe were quite sour. The sugar was necessary to bring out the flavour and the salt, for a savoury take. May omit completely if you find it tasty on its own.

Tip : Steam the cauliflower whilst the chicken is baking.

Oven-Baked Chicken With Kiwi Sauce

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Finger Food For Besties Night

"I've something juicy to tell .... Wait! I've got to go check on that orange rosemary roast turkey I'm making for you girls! "

That's an exaggeration, but I think you get what I'm trying to say. It's not how I imagine a besties night to go. It should be a time of relaxation with group activities that pamper the mind, body and soul. Cosying up with each other over a movie, playing card games and catching up on life events - this is my kind of fun.

Unless it's a cooking meet-up or a special dinner occasion, besties night shouldn't be about sweating it out in the kitchen and looking like you need a shower when it's time to sit and enjoy the company. There must be food, of course. I'm just saying that it needn't be an elaborate affair. So, finger food it is for me.

These are a few light bites that I often turn to so that I can spend my time where it should - on my friends, not the stove! And I was in no way tired out before my friends arrived.

1. Lemon & Pepper Seasoning Chicken Drumettes
How-to: Rub two dozen chicken drumettes with 3 tsp of McCormick Lemon & Pepper Seasoning and 1½ tsp cooking oil. Bake in oven, on a foil-lined tray at 180C for about 45minutes.

2. Mashed Egg On Savoury Biscuits
How-to: This can be prepared a day earlier. Mash 10 boiled eggs with more or less ⅔ cup mayonnaise (to preference). Season with a pinch of salt and several dashes of white pepper. Mix well. Serve on savoury crackers (like Garden Spring Onion Savoury Crackers). Garnish with fresh coriander or spring onion.

3. Plum Sauce Cocktail Sausages
How-to: Bake cocktail sausages on a foil-lined tray until heated through. Remove from oven and place into a large bowl. Toss, in plum sauce and finely chopped red chilli and fresh coriander.

4. Longan Ice Pops
How-to: This must be made in advance. Use canned longans. Keep the syrup aside for later use.

To make the filling, grate a cucumber (middle section removed) into a bowl. Squeeze some calamondin juice over and pour a little of the longan syrup in. Mix well.The mixture should not be too watery.

Stuff the longans with the cucumber filling.  Place the longans into a cube ice mould - one longan for each hole in the mould. Stick a toothpick in the center (midway through). Chill in freezer until frozen.


Note: These How-Tos are only a guide. Please flavour to your preference. Baking time may vary.
 

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