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Apricot Chicken and Broccoli Recipe
Why make apricot chicken and broccoli?
Both sweet and savoury, this dish delightfully pairs soft, tangy apricots and tender chicken thighs gently cooked together in a rich, spiced sauce. Served over couscous (or rice) and with steamed broccoli on the side, our traditional apricot chicken recipe is a delicious, comforting classic everyone can enjoy. Just as well suited to slow weekend dinners or as a weeknight meal, our recipe combines top-quality chicken thighs from Grange Meat Co. with a mix of flavourful, fresh and easy-to-source ingredients. Quick to prepare and budget-friendly, this dish makes no compromises on flavour and is sure to become a firm favourite in your home.
Selecting the right ingredients
First pan-fried and then slowly cooked, the success of your apricot chicken and broccoli dish relies heavily on using premium chicken thighs. The ethically raised, free-range chicken available from Grange Meat Co. guarantees the best results. If you’re keen to learn how to make apricot chicken, here's what else you'll need to create a winning dish:
- Chicken thighs: Opt for lean, free-range chicken thighs from Grange Meat Co. which are both tender and flavourful.
- Fresh garlic and onion: These add depth of flavour to your sauce.
- Dried apricots: Choose high-quality dried apricots that are soft and plump as these will rehydrate best during cooking.
- Apricot nectar: Be sure to use pure apricot nectar as this is the most flavourful and will ensure a lovely, thick sauce for your chicken.
- Salt and pepper: Essential for seasoning.
- Moroccan seasoning blend: A key ingredient, this blend of savoury spices brings mouth watering flavours that perfectly complement the sweetness of the apricots. Made using paprika, cloves, cinnamon, cumin and more, this blend is available at most grocery stores.
- Fresh broccoli: Crisp and refreshingly green, broccoli brings the perfect contrast of texture, colour and flavour to the dish.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup plain flour
- 8 Grange Meat Co. free-range chicken thigh fillets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large brown onion, cut into thin wedges
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tbsp Moroccan seasoning blend
- 405mL can apricot nectar
- 1/2 cup dried apricots
- 1-2 bunches of Broccolini or a head of broccoli trimmed to florets
- 1 cup couscous
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/3 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leavesw
Here’s a step-by-step guide to making this amazing apricot chicken dish:
- Coat the chicken
Place flour in a shallow dish and generously season with salt and pepper. Toss the chicken thighs in the flour mix, shaking off any excess and then set aside.
- Sear the chicken
Heat 1/2 the oil in a large, deep heavy-based frying pan or non-ceramic casserole dish over medium heat. Gently fry the chicken in batches, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden on the outside, adding extra oil if needed. The chicken does not need to be cooked through at this stage.
Once all the chicken is done, transfer it to a plate and set it aside.
- Make the sauce
Using the same pan or casserole dish, heat the remaining oil. Add in the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until tender and aromatic. Sprinkle in the Moroccan seasoning blend and stir well to combine. Pour over the apricot nectar and bring it to a boil. Then, reduce heat to low, return chicken to pan, cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- Thicken and add apricots
After 20 minutes, add the dried apricots, ensuring they are fully submerged in the sauce. Cook, uncovered, for a further 20 to 25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
- Steam broccoli
Trim the broccolini or broccoli and place in a steamer basket inside a medium saucepan. Add water to the pot, ensuring it is not visible above the base of the steamer basket. Bring water to the boil and cook until bright green and tender.
- Cook couscous
Meanwhile, place couscous in a heatproof bowl. Pour over boiling water. Cover. Stand for 5 minutes or until water is absorbed. Stir with a fork to separate grains. If rice is preferred, basmati or long-grain varieties work best – prepare as per package directions.
- Serve
To serve, spoon couscous or rice onto plates. Top with chicken and a generous serving of apricot sauce and place steamed broccoli on the side. Sprinkle with parsley. Enjoy!
Tips for a perfectly balanced dish
- Using high-quality dried apricots and pure apricot puree will ensure the best apricot flavour.
- Taste the sauce as it is cooking and make adjustments to your preference. If you find the apricots are overpowering the spice blend, add more of the moroccan spice, salt and pepper to taste.
Can I make apricot chicken in the slow cooker?
Yes, this dish lends itself perfectly for the slow cooker. Slow cooking will ensure the chicken thighs absorb the flavour of the sauce to produce a mouth watering and tender meal.
Can I use chicken drumsticks to make apricot chicken?
Fresh chicken drumsticks are also a popular choice for apricot chicken. Ensure you adjust cooking times accordingly and have a casserole dish deep enough for the drumsticks to be submerged in the sauce during cooking.
