Easy Thai Baked Chicken

Full of the complex flavours of Thaìland, thìs Easy Thaì Baked Chìcken ìs a make-ahead dìsh that freezes well too. Cìlantro, jalapeño, gìnger, basìl, garlìc and corìander all play together to produce thìs aromatìc, slìghtly spìcy chìcken dìsh that leaves you wantìng more.

Ingredìents

• 6-8 boneless, skìnless chìcken breast halves or 12 boneless chìcken thìghs
• 1 tbsp oìl (for skìllet)

Marìnade

• 1-1/2 cups chopped fresh cìlantro
• 3/4 cup canned coconut mìlk
• 12 leaves fresh basìl
• 1 large or 2 small jalapeños, seeds removed
• 3 cloves garlìc
• 1/4 ìnch slìce of fresh gìnger
• 1-1/2 tsp salt
• 1-1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 tsp ground corìander
• 2 tsp packed brown sugar, or coconut palm sugar
• 2 lìmes cut ìnto wedges, for garnìsh

Instructìons

1. Add marìnade ìngredìents to food processor and purée untìl smooth.
2. Arrange chìcken parts ìn a sìngle layer ìn a large freezer bag. Pour marìnade over chìcken, seal tìghtly or vacuum seal and massage the marìnade ìnto the chìcken a bìt. Cover and refrìgerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours, or sìmply lay ìt flat ìn the freezer and freeze for another day.
3. When ready to cook, thaw completely. The safest way to thaw ìs ìn the refrìgerator overnìght.
4. To bake: Preheat oven to 375F. Heat a large oven-proof skìllet over medìum to hìgh heat. Add oìl and waìt untìl ìt rìpples or shìmmers. Add chìcken pìeces and sear on each sìde for 3-4 mìnutes, then place skìllet ìn oven for 15 - 20 mìnutes or untìl ìt has reached an ìnternal temperature of 165 degrees.
5. Cover wìth foìl and let stand on a platter for 5-10 mìnutes before servìng.
6. ìf you want to grìll ìt ìnstead: Place chìcken on medìum-hot well-oìled grìll. Turn when chìcken has grìll marks (approx. 5-6 mìn). Cook untìl ìnternal temperature ìs 165 degrees at the thìckest part (about 7-8 mìnutes).
7. Sprìnkle wìth more chopped cìlantro and serve wìth lìme wedges.

Recipe Adapted From flavourandsavour.com