Gluten Free · Holiday Food · Nuts · Poultry

Sticky chicken with sherry, almonds & dates

Tender, sticky roasted whole chicken legs coated in a lip-smacking glaze. Also ideal for feeding a crowd

Serves 8
3 tbsp olive oil
8 whole chicken legs (including the thigh)
2 large onions, chopped
15 garlic cloves, left whole in their skins
1 heaped tsp ground cumin (I roast mine)
8 fl oz (or 1 cup) sherry, like Manzanilla or Oloroso
zest and juice of 1 large lemon, plus extra zest to serve
3 oz whole blanched almonds, (I used Marcona) roughly chopped
12 large soft dates, like Medjool, pitted and chopped
2 oz pack flat -leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Heat the oven to 400 F
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan.
Season the chicken then brown it on all sides.
Remove the chicken, place it in a large baking dish then set aside.
Add the remaining oil, onions and garlic to the pan and season.
Fry for 10 minutes until glden.
Stir in the cumin, sherry, lemon juice and zest. Bring to the boil then add the almonds, dates and half the parsley.
Pour the sauce over the chicken. Cover with foil, then roast for 1 hour until tender, taking the foil off after 15 minutes of cooking.
Spoon the liquid over the chicken a couple of times during the roasting.
Serve piled up on a large platter with the sauce poured over, the garlic cloves, remaining parsley and some extra lemon zest.
This is lovely served with a nice, tasty quinoa or couscous dish