After defrosting a few packages of butternut squash, I ended up not using all of them as planned. So, I’ve decided to add one of the packages to the pan with chicken thighs and onions I was about to put in the oven. The butternut squash was mixed with the onions, balsamic-pear vinegar, maple syrup and Sriracha sauce, and was used as a bed for the spiced chicken thighs.
The result was so tasty; spicy, salty and sweet vegetables with golden-brown crispy skin chicken thighs. I will no doubt prepare this quick and tasty dish again very soon. Try it and enjoy.
Notes:
* Balsamic-pear vinegar is a mix of wine vinegar, grape and pear must and caramel. It is less acidic and thicker than vinegar. It is available in gourmet stores or online.
Makes: 2-4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Roasting time: 50 minutes
Ingredients:
For the chicken:
4 medium chicken thighs, 2 lbs/900 grams), bone-in skin-on, preferably air chilled
1 tsp salt
½ tsp each: sweet paprika, onion powder, garlic powder
A few drops Sriracha sauce
1 Tbs olive oil
For the vegetables:
1 package (1 lb/454 grams) frozen cubed butternut squash, thawed
2 medium onions, sliced thick
2 Tbs Balsamic-Pear vinegar (see notes)
2 Tbs maple syrup
A few drops Sriracha sauce
1 tsp salt
½ tsp four peppers mix
2 Tbs olive oil
For serving: (optional)
Couscous with fresh herbs (for instructions see THIS post)
1. Preheat the oven to 420F (215C). Line a deep roasting pan with aluminum foil and baking paper.
2. In a small bowl, combine the chicken with the spices, salt, Sriracha sauce and oil. Mix well to coat and keep at room temperature until using.
3. Place the butternut squash in the pan, add the rest of the ingredients and mix. Add the chicken thighs on top.
4. Roast for 50 minutes, or until the chicken skin is deep brown and the vegetables caramelize.
I like the balsamic-pear-maple syrup combination, Ronit. Sounds delightful!
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Thank you Dolly! The balsamic-pear syrup is indeed delicious and can be used in so many ways. Well worth looking for. 🙂
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AWESOME!! I have’t been checking in with my fellow bloggers – or blogging, for that matter – for far too long.
But this recipe caught my eye for two reasons; it’s delicious AND I just purchased some chicken thighs and (fresh) butternut squash at Whole Foods. (I’m ‘trying’ to eat better….) ; o )
I’m gonna make this for my dinner tonight. I don’t have all the lovely ingredients you include, but I can come up with a facsimile of your wonderful recipe! I’ll get back to you about how successful I was.
Wishing you and yours all the best for 2018.
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Oops – quick thing for you to fix… ” Balsamic-pear vinegar is a mix of wine vinegar, grape and pear “must” and caramel….. ; o )
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“Must” is the term for a thick unstrained fruit juice. 🙂
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Thanks!! I just learned something new!!
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🙂
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Thank you Cecile, nice to see you back. I’m glad this recipe came on time. I’m sure your version will be just as tasty. I’ll be happy to hear about it.
Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
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I bet that was delicious. I’m very intrigued by the Balsamic pear vinegar. I’ll have to google and see if I can find some here in NL.
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Thank you Myra, I’m glad you liked the dish. It’s full of flavors yet takes only a few minutes to prepare.
I hope you’ll find the balsamic-pear syrup. It’s so tasty and has so many uses. I also have one with figs that I need to experiment with. 🙂
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☺
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Everything about this looks and sounds delicious!
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Thank you Coleen, I’m glad you liked the dish. Adding the butternut squash was a last minute decision, but it worked so well it was worth it to write down the recipe. 🙂
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Oh my does that look good! Thighs are my favorite part of the chicken!
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Thank you Diane, I’m glad you liked the dish. Thighs are my favorite part as well, so I’m always looking for new ways to flavor them. 🙂
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That sticky sauce on the chicken looks so good!
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Thank you Kathryn, I’m glad you liked the dish. It was very tasty! 🙂
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You must have seen the 18 thighs I brought home on Friday!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
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It sure sounds like it! 🙂
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I have two boneless skinless ones, too, so I think I will marinate them in your suggested ingredients, substituting here and there. I have date sugar, regular molasses, and pomegranate seeds, so those will be the substitutions.
Five hours until dinnertime; better get myself motivating!
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Bon Appétit! 🙂
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Ooh, this sounds tasty. I know what I’ll be making tomorrow!
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Thank you Ingrid, I’m glad you liked the dish. Hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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That looks yummy. We love butternut squash so I will have to try your recipe.
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Thank you Donna, I’m glad you liked the recipe. The butternut squash added such nice flavor and color to the dish. Hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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The squash sounds wonderful with all of those flavors – balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and Sriracha! I have a store nearby where I can get so many flavored oils and vinegars – I just love using them. My problem is where to store them all 🙂
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Thank you Judi. The squash was a last minute decision, but it worked so well.
I too love all these flavored oils and vinegars, but try to buy one or two at a time. On top of the storing issue, I feel they lose aroma and flavor with time, so I don’t want to have too many open bottles around… 🙂
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I’ll have to look into the shelf life of the vinegars I have – I know oils don’t last forever and can get rancid.
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This is a really delightful meal! Perfect for a cold winter day!
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Thank you Mimi, I’m glad you liked the dish. 🙂
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Look s very delicious! I’ve never heard of Balsamic Pear vinegar. I bet it tastes great with the chicken.
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Thank you Joanne! The pear-balsamic vinegar indeed works so well in this dish. It’s also great in marinades. 🙂
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Love the flavour combinations of sweet and spicy and baked chicken thighs are always delicious!
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Thank you Marcellina, I’m glad you liked the dish. 🙂
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Sounds tasty!
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Thank you Sandra! 🙂
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I can’t begin to tell you how good this dish looks…I’ve pinned the recipe.
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Thank you Karen, I’m glad to hear. Hope you’ll enjoy the dish. 🙂
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The glaze on the chicken looks beautiful. I think it is a filling meal option. Learnt about some new ingredients. But I guess I can’t add the pear vinegar because of the wine. I will try it with cider vinegar. Thanks for sharing Ronit😊
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Thank you Ana, I’m glad you liked the recipe. As much as I know, balsamic vinegar doesn’t have alcohol in it. However, If you still want to substitute it, I would suggest adding 1 Tbs honey, or date syrup, as the balsamic-pear vinegar also adds sweetness. 🙂
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Thanks Ronit! If there is no alcohol I will go ahead with the complete recipe. Looks amazing👌😋
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Looks most delicious!
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Thank yo Liz! 🙂
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I love butternut squash! This looks amazing! Hope I can find the balsamic pear vinegar!
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Thank you Kelly, I’m glad to know. Any other balsamic-fruit syrup can be used here. Another option is to mix 1 Tbs regular balsamic vinegar with 1 Tbs of date syrup.
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Perfect! Thank you!
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Hello Ronit, just to let you know, that I made this last night and we absolutely loved it. The only thing, I’ve added a few bell peppers to the mix too. I served with the cous cous as well. It was delicious, I’d make it again, as it’s so easy to adapt.
Thank you again for another great recipe! 🙂
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Thank you Yana, for this lovely update. I’m very glad to know you’ve enjoyed the dish.
Love your addition of bell peppers! Will keep it in mind for next time! 🙂
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Oooh delicious, never seen balsamic pear before must try and find it that’s something missing from my larder !
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Thank you Emily, I’m glad you liked the recipe. Flavored vinegars add such nice flavor and color to many dishes. Well worth looking for. 🙂
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I agree I love balsamic vinegars sometimes reduce my own with fruit or honey, it’s good as it means I can go out shopping to lovely food markets and shops again! I can imagine the sort of flavours it will give ! Yummy 😋
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You’re so right, I forgot about the option of reducing, especially with honey or maple syrup. So good! 🙂
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This is the ultimate dinner recipe. Excellent combination of ingredients. Can I use some other kind of oil rather than olive oil?
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Thank you Agness, I’m glad you liked the recipe. Yes, you can definitely use other type of oil. 🙂
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Looks so delicious! 😋😋
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Thank you Ursula. 🙂
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Oh my god! I love chicken and this recipe looks absolutely delicious! It looks so appetising in the photo!!
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked the recipe. 🙂
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Looks so yummy!
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Thank you Kelly! 🙂
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😋😋
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I’ll have to make this one. I have all the ingredients and I love everything about this.
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It’s super simple, yet super tasty! 🙂
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If you’re using chicken tights:
– only the upper part without the drumstick?
– bone-in or boneless?
– with the skin on?
From your pics, I can not always clearly see it!
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Thank you Felix for your comment. I’ve used bone-in with skin on (which came very crispy here!). I usually specify all this, but neglected to do so in this post. I’ll correct it. 🙂
p.s. Clicking on any photo will enlarge it, so it’s easier to see more details.
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