Lemon Zest Chicken
By: Laszlo Bodi
Published: Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 7:09pm

Ingredients




4 pounds chicken parts thighs and legs, skin-on, bone-in, and trimmed of excess fat
2 tablespoons lemon zest
 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons fresh chopped thyme or 2 teaspoons dried
1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary or 1 tsp dried
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons melted butter
Lemon slices, for garnish

Preparation

1 Place lemon juice, lemon peel, garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a small bowl; whisk to combine. With the tip of a sharp knife, cut into each chicken piece one or two times by about 1/2 an inch. (This will help the marinade penetrate.) Place the chicken pieces and the marinade in a gallon-sized freezer bag, and rotate the bag so that all chicken pieces are coated with the marinade. Seal the bag and place in a bowl in the refrigerator (in case of leakage). Let marinate for 2 hours. 2 Preheat oven to 425°F. Remove chicken from marinade and place in a single layer in a large baking dish, skin side up. Reserve the marinade. Use a pastry brush to brush a little melted butter on to each piece of chicken. 3 Bake for a total of 50 to 55 minutes, until the skins are crispy brown, and the chicken is cooked through, juices running clear  thighs 175°F). Half-way through the baking, at about the 25 minute mark, baste the chicken pieces generously with reserved marinade. 4 Let rest, covered in foil, for 10 minutes before serving. 5 Pour the juices from the pan into a serving bowl. Use a tablespoon to skim the fat off the top . Serve the chicken with the juices on the side or a little poured over the top of the chicken. 6 Serve alone or with steamed rice.

About


I like making Lemon Chicken with dark meat, since everyone cooks chicken breasts. It's a nice twist on a classic dish without an overbearing lemon flavor-- enjoy.
If you like a thicker sauce, add a teaspoon of flour and water, mix thoroughly and pour juices in to pan and reduce. Add salt and pepper to your liking