People ask me all the time where I get ideas for what to make for dinner.
Inspiration comes from far and wide. From other bloggers and food websites, to meals I’ve had on vacation, and what’s on sale at the grocery store or in season at the Farmers’ Market at the moment.
Sometimes the best inspiration comes from the most unlikely of sources…like the back of a vinegar bottle, for instance.
Really! See, while Ben was busy dousing his fish & chips with malt vinegar at an Irish Pub in the NY NY Hotel this Spring in Vegas, I caught a glimpse of the back of the vinegar bottle.
Peachy Chicken, it read. Intrigued, I tried to catch a glimpse of the recipe as he shook the bottle up and down, up and down, over and over and over! (Ben likes vinegar. ) Give that to me! I exclaimed, as I pried the vinegar bottle from his sour death grip.
Peachy Chicken, I thought, hmmmm, I’m intrigued… I like peaches, I like chicken – I bet I would really like Peachy Chicken! Wait…there’s canned peach liquid in this recipe. I might as well pour corn syrup straight down my throat. Gross. Ew, plus orange juice concentrate. More sugar! Ben hates sweet chicken too. What to do, what to do…
Eh, I’ll figure this out later. I’m in Vegas and this Jeremiah Weed isn’t going to drink itself. Yhatzee!
Well almost 4 months later, I’ve finally “figured it out” and made a healthier version of the recipe on the back of the Vegas vinegar bottle – Savory Peach Chicken!
This was better than I ever imagined, and not anywhere near as sweet as “Peachy Chicken” would have been.
It might be my new favorite whole chicken breast recipe, actually, plus Ben loved it too!
I started by pounding a couple chicken breast until they were a uniform thickness then seasoned them with lots of salt and pepper.
Next I seared the chicken breasts in a wee bit of extra virgin olive oil, until they were golden brown on one side.
Then I flipped and did the same on the other side. I didn’t cook the chicken all the way through – just gave it some color.
After the chicken breasts were browned on both sides, I removed them to a plate, and aside for the time being. Then I made a delectable sauce for the dish, made up of brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, fresh orange juice and chicken broth,
and sliced up two juicy organic peaches. Oooo, I wanted a slice so bad!
Next, I quickly sautéed some microplaned ginger and garlic in the hot skillet, before adding the sauce and peaches in.
The peaches and sauce got soft and reduced for a bit, before I nestled the chicken back in the pan,
and popped the lid on top.
5 minutes later we were ready to rock!
Luscious, elegant, savory and just a hint of sweet. Spectacular!
I was afraid the peaches would be mealy or mushy as they cooked down – instead they turned velvety and practically melted in my mouth after poaching in the savory soy sauce and chicken broth for just over 10 minutes.
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Savory Peach Chicken
Description
Savory Peach Chicken is a dish inspired by the recipe on the back of the Heinz Malt Vinegar bottle! It's much fresher, and lighter in this yummy adaptation.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 chicken breasts, pounded to uniform thickness
- salt & pepper
- 1" knob fresh ginger, grated or finely minced
- 2 garlic cloves, grated or finely minced
- 2 organic peaches, sliced thin
Directions
- Combine brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, orange juice and chicken broth in a bowl. Set aside.
- Preheat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken breasts with salt & pepper, then place in the hot skillet. Cook until golden brown on one side, then flip and cook until golden brown on the other side, ~4 minutes total. Chicken will not be cooked through. Remove to a plate and set aside.
- Add ginger and garlic to the hot pan and stir constantly for no more than 10 seconds. Add the brown sugar/chicken broth mixture and sliced peaches to the pan, and increase heat to high. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring once or twice, until sauce has thickened and peaches start to become soft.
- Nestle chicken back into the skillet, reduce heat to medium-low, place a lid on top and cook for 5 more minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Serve on top of brown rice cooked in chicken broth.
Notes
Adapted from Ellie Krieger
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
When inspiration strikes – find a way to make it work for you!
Could you send me the other recipe that was originally linked here? I think it was Gingery Peach Chicken?
I made this with chicken thighs because that was what I had. It was wonderful. I’m making the sauce again tonight but with shrimp this time. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
I would like to use canned peaches. Could I just add them later? I know they won’t have the firmness or tartness but when I can’t get peaches thought I might try it. What do you think?
Is this something you could put in the crock pot after browning the chicken breasts? Thanks.
Can you put the rice in with the liquid? Or do you have to cook it separately?
Just made this – it was delicious! Loved the tasty, sour/sweet/tangy sauce. With it being the middle of winter and definitely not peach season, I bought a bag of frozen peaches from Whole Foods – they worked perfectly. (Upped the recipe for 3 chicken breasts & used ~2/3 16oz bag of peaches)
[…] thought the peaches would be good with chicken. I looked up some recipes and found this recipe from Iowa Girl Eats. The mixture of orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar intrigued me- I […]
I *finally* got to make this for dinner tonight! It’s been winter here and I’ve desperately been waiting for the new season of peaches to arrive so I could make it and it was totally worth the wait!! (And the cost of the just arrived for the season peaches!).
I had to sub verjuice for the rice vinegar (should check my use by dates more often ;)). The husband absolutely loved it too, said the sauce really made the dish. So thank you so much for sharing! This one is definitely going to be served up more often around here.
you’ve inspired me! :D
I just made a sandwich with savory basalmic vinegar grilled nectarines, brown sugar caramelized walnuts, and fresh spinach/arugula! :D
thanks for this lovely peachy chicken recipe :)
[…] Winner Chicken Dinner – You can find the recipe here. Definitely on the “make again” […]
[…] Peach Chicken (adapted from Kristin of Iowa Girl Eats blog) […]
Holy friggin’ awesome! I just made those no-bake PB cookies and they’re amazing! I have to control myself to keep from going back for more, and my kids are all over me asking for another one every five minutes. It’s a hit here!
Glad you enjoyed them as much as I did! :D
I have also gotten inspiration from the package of BARE chicken–it was a yummy recipe!
In general, I get inspiration from my dogs. They live life with such joy, focusing wholly on the present. Now that’s inspiration!
[…] I can’t at ALL take credit for this “recipe”. I started it based on Kristin’s no bake cookie post yesterday, and incorporated the idea of the oat flour from Averie. I’m sure Katie has made […]
Um, I think you are my new inspiration :-) I made the Savory Peach Chicken tonight and my family loved it!
How many cookies did the recipe make? They look fabulous!
About 18!