Aloha Friday Recipe: Sweet and Savory Baked Chicken

December 4th, 2009

4 sprigs fresh tarragon (2 sprigs chopped, 2 whole sprigs for roasting), plus more for garnish
Course salt and freshly ground pepper
1 whole chicken (about 4 1?2 pounds), cut into pieces
2 cups chopped fresh Maui Gold pineapple
8 shallots (2 coarsely chopped, 6 halved lengthwise)
2 tablespoons rice-wine vinegar
1?2 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Stir chopped tarragon, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1?4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Rub mixture all over chicken. Transfer to a large roasting pan, arranging chicken so pieces are not touching. Refrigerate until ready to bake (up to 1 day).

Put pineapple, chopped shallots, vinegar, sugar, and 1?2 teaspoon salt into a food processor. Process until mixture is slightly chunky, about 2 minutes.

Spread pineapple mixture over chicken. Top with dabs of butter. Add the remaining tarragon sprigs and 6 shallots to roasting pan. Bake chicken, basting with pan juices occasionally until skin is golden, about 50 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Maui Gold Pineapple