Mojito-Glazed Chicken Recipe

Step 1

For the mojito marinade:

Step 2

In a large, environmentally-friendly, airtight container, combine all ingredients for the mojito marinade and the chicken thighs, cover the container and shake to coat the chicken. Then, place the container in the fridge and marinade for 1 hour (any longer may result in the chicken starting to cook in the marinade).

Step 3

For the mojito glaze:

Step 4

In a small bowl, combine the roasted garlic, rum, lime juice, honey and mint. Set aside.

Step 5

To cook:

Step 6

Preheat the oven to 425 F.

Step 7

Before adding the chicken to the pan, use a paper towel to thoroughly pat the skin dry. When the skin is moist or wet, it's more likely to stick to the pan and therefore won't crisp up well.

Step 8

Heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a 9-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and let it get hot — really hot, just before smoking. Add the chicken thighs, skin-side down, and let them do their thing. This is the crucial step where the skin picks up its beautiful crispy texture. The secret to success is searing the thighs undisturbed until the skin is well-browned, about 6 to 7 minutes. Try not to lift, or otherwise check the browning skin, until completely browned. For best searing results, you may need to adjust the placement of the chicken in the skillet to ensure even browning on all sides of the skin.

Step 9

With tongs, flip the chicken skin-side up and carefully transfer the skillet to the oven, roast for 15 to 20 minutes until it's done (it should register as 165 F in the thickest part of the chicken, not touching the bone).

Step 10

Remove the chicken from the oven and lightly cover the skillet with foil and allow it to rest for about 10 minutes.

Step 11

For the spring salad:

Step 12

Arrange the vegetables on a serving platter and season lightly with salt and pepper.

Step 13

To serve:

Step 14

Serve chicken on top of the spring salad. Drizzle the mojito glaze over the entire dish and enjoy!