Chicken Baked with Orange-Spiced Harissa Sauce
This easy roast chicken recipe combines juicy chicken with a spicy orange harissa sauce, creating an outstanding balance of flavors. With a perfect combination of heat and flavor, this harissa chicken recipe will surely become a new favorite in your collection.
Yield
6 servingsPrep
10 hrsCook
2 hrsReady
6 hrsWhere to buy Harissa?
Harissa is available as a spice powder, a paste and as a sauce.
What is harissa sauce?
Harissa sauce is a fiery, flavorful, and versatile condiment from North Africa. It is particularly popular in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.
It's a red chile pepper paste that typically includes a blend of hot chile peppers, olive oil, garlic, and warm spices such as caraway, cumin, coriander, and sometimes mint.
The specific ingredients can vary by country, but the result is a spicy, aromatic, and complex paste that adds a kick to a wide range of dishes.
You can use Harissa to season meats and vegetables, add it to soups, stews, or pasta, or mix it into a salad dressing for a spicy twist.
It's often described as the North African version of Sriracha or ketchup, a common condiment that can elevate the flavor of many dishes.
Harissa is available in jars and can be purchased in Middle Eastern markets, but it's also simple enough to make at home if you're feeling adventurous in the kitchen.
Ingredients
| Amount | Measure | Ingredient | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¼ | cup |
harissa sauce
|
* |
| ½ | cup |
orange juice
|
|
| 1 | tablespoon |
orange zest
grated |
|
| ¼ | cup |
apple cider vinegar
|
|
| 2 | tablespoons |
olive oil, extra-virgin
|
|
| 2 | teaspoons |
sugar
|
|
| 1 | teaspoon |
cinnamon
ground |
|
| 3 | pounds |
chicken
whole or cut-up as desired |
|
Ingredients
| Amount | Measure | Ingredient | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | ml |
harissa sauce
|
* |
| 118 | ml |
orange juice
|
|
| 15 | ml |
orange zest
grated |
|
| 59 | ml |
apple cider vinegar
|
|
| 3E+1 | ml |
olive oil, extra-virgin
|
|
| 1E+1 | ml |
sugar
|
|
| 5 | ml |
cinnamon
ground |
|
| 1.4 | kg |
chicken
whole or cut-up as desired |
|
Directions
Combine all ingredients except chicken; harissa sauce, orange juice, orange zest, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, sugar and cinnamon, in a small bowl or glass measuring cup to make a smooth sauce.
Thin as needed with additional orange juice.
Separate skin from chicken breast, and be careful not to cut the skin.
Place some of the sauce between the breast skin and the breast.
Cover the chicken with the remainder of the sauce and marinate for 3 to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
Bake chicken in a 350℉ (180℃) oven for two hours until done, basting frequently with sauce.
Cover chicken with aluminum foil if the chicken browns too quickly.
