Oven-Baked Chicken with Honey, Saffron and Lemon Glaze over Spinach Bulgur with Almonds

Name: Oven-Baked Chicken with Honey, Saffron and Lemon Glaze over Spinach Bulgur with Almonds
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Fusión mediterránea
Ingredients: 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs; 3 tbsp honey; 1 whole lemon; 1 pinch saffron; 1 tbsp hot water; 3 cloves garlic; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp sweet paprika; 3 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 cup bulgur; 1 medium yellow onion; 1 1/2 cups chicken broth; 3 cups fresh spinach; 1/3 cup sliced almonds; 2 tbsp fresh parsley; 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

An original recipe for juicy oven-baked chicken with an aromatic honey, saffron, and lemon glaze, served over bulgur tossed with spinach, onion, and toasted almonds. It brings together sweet, citrusy, and spiced notes in an elegant, balanced dish.

20 minPrep

35 minCook

55 minTotal

4Servings

High Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (secados with papel of cocina)
45 ml honey (for the glaseado)
1 unit lemon (3 tbsp de jugo)
0.25 g saffron (hebras, infusionadas)
15 ml hot water (for infusionar the azafrán)
3 cloves garlic (chopped finely)
2 g ground cumin
2 g sweet paprika
45 ml olive oil (divided)
6 g salt (or to taste)
1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
180 g bulgur (enjuagado si es necesario)
120 g yellow onion (chopped diced small)
360 ml chicken broth (for cocer the bulgur)
90 g fresh spinach (troceadas gruesas)
35 g sliced almonds (tostadas)
10 g fresh parsley (chopped)
0.5 g ground cinnamon (for terminar)

Nutrition facts

per serving

498 kcal

Calories

34 g

Protein

31 g

Carbs

26 g

Fat

4 g

Fiber

27 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

GlutenTree Nuts

Instructions

1
1. Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Lightly grease a baking dish with a little of the olive oil.
2
2. Place the saffron in a small bowl with the hot water and let it steep for 5 minutes.
3
3. In another bowl, mix the honey, lemon zest, 45 ml / 3 tbsp lemon juice, the steeped saffron with its liquid, garlic, ground cumin, sweet paprika, 30 ml / 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
4
4. Add the chicken thighs to the bowl and coat them well with the glaze. Arrange them in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
5
5. Bake the chicken for 15 minutes at 220 °C / 425 °F. Remove the dish, baste the chicken with its juices, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes more, until nicely browned and fully cooked.
6
6. While the chicken bakes, heat 15 ml / 1 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the yellow onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until tender.
7
7. Stir in the bulgur and cook for 1 minute so it gets coated with the oil and onion. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil.
8
8. Reduce the heat, cover, and cook the bulgur for 10 to 12 minutes, until it has absorbed most of the liquid. Add the fresh spinach, cover again, and let it sit for 2 minutes so the leaves wilt from the steam.
9
9. Uncover the saucepan and fluff the bulgur with a fork. Add the toasted sliced almonds, chopped fresh parsley, and ground cinnamon, mixing gently.
10
10. Spoon the spinach bulgur onto plates. Top with the baked chicken and drizzle with the pan juices. Serve hot.

Chef tips

For deeper flavor, let the chicken sit in the glaze for 15 minutes before baking. Toast the almonds in a dry skillet for 2 to 3 minutes over medium heat to intensify their aroma.

Substitutions

You can replace the bulgur with quinoa for a gluten-free version, adjusting the liquid and cooking time. Almonds can be swapped for sunflower seeds if you want to avoid tree nuts. Chicken breast can be used instead of thighs, with a slightly shorter cooking time.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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Illustrative image
Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8" Chef’s Knife
Chopping, slicing and cutting strips
- The knife I use most when cooking
- Chops, slices and cuts into strips
- Keep it sharp and hand-dry it
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