From Mercedes’ Kitchen: Sheet Pan Chicken With Chickpeas And Spices And More
The Sheet Pan Chicken with Chickpeas And Spices that my friend, Mercedes (an awesome cook) made last week is too good not to share with you. When we are in town at the same time as our friends, Mark and Mercedes, we get together often for dinner.
This past week we had a mutual friend visiting from Austin so we made dinner at our house one night and at Mercedes and Mark’s house the next.
Right now, Howard and I are in Los Angeles to visit our daughter and their newborn son. So happy!
It’s Five Faves time with Annie and Cindy and here’s what I have been enjoying this past week.
What To Cook: Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken With Chickpeas, Turmeric And Cumin
Mercedes used this recipe from the New York Times. Our son Tommy is engaged to a young woman of Persian decent. A couple of weeks ago, he made a reservation for the four of us to eat at Berenjak Soho, an intimate restaurant serving family style Persian food in London. It was a memorable evening.
This fragrant sheet pan dinner with yogurt and onions on the side reminded me of that night. Although this may be more Indian.
The yogurt marinade tenderizes the meat, and the sugars in the yogurt help brown the skin of the chicken as it roasts.
Chicken With Chickpeas, Cumin and Turmeric
Ingredients
- 1 3 to 3½ Chicken of bone-in, skin-on chicken parts, such as breasts, thighs and legs Mercedes used chicken thighs
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 1/2 cups full fat Greek yogurt, divided
- 5 tbsp fresh lemon juice, divided
- 2 tsp ground turmeric, divided
- 2 15 oz cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 tbs fennel seed
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 large red onion thinly sliced, divided
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup mint or cilantro leaves, torn
Instructions
- Season chicken parts with salt and pepper
- Combine ¾ cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon turmeric and 2 tablespoons water in a large bowl. Season well with salt and pepper. (It should be on the salty side, as this is a marinade.) Add chicken and toss to coat evenly. Let sit at least 30 minutes at room temperature, and up to overnight in the refrigerator.
- Place oven rack on the top third of the oven and heat to 425 degrees.
- Combine chickpeas, fennel seed, cumin, remaining teaspoon of turmeric and half the red onion slices on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
- Move chickpeas to the outer edges of the baking sheet. Scrape any excess marinade off the chicken, and place the chicken parts in the center. Place baking sheet in oven and bake, tossing chickpeas occasionally, until the skin of the chicken is evenly browned and the chickpeas are golden and starting to crisp, 45 to 50 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toss remaining onion slices with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and season with salt and pepper; set aside.
- Combine remaining yogurt with remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice and season with salt and pepper; set aside.
- Once chicken is ready, scatter with lemony onions and mint or cilantro. Serve with seasoned yogurt alongside as a sauce.
Silicone Trivet Mats and Pot Holders
Mercedes uses these silicone pot holders from Amazon. There are lots of colors and they would make a nice stocking stuffer (4 for $13).
Also on Amazon (right photo above), you can use them as pot holders or trivets. They showed an image where one was being used to open a tight jar lid (I could use that sometimes). And they are dishwasher safe. I am going to order some in light blue gray.
The Simplest Caramel Dessert
Mercedes bought this salted caramel mousse in the freezer section at our local Publix grocery store. Check your local grocery store.
She sprinkled a little flakey sea salt on top. They were delicious! These glass cups will make cute votive candle holders too.
A Cool Store In Los Angeles For Stone Vessels: Olive Ateliers
Our daughter would like to have a water feature in a corner of their new backyard so she took me to Olive Ateliers. Their instagram page is inspirational for gardens.
“Olive Ateliers sources thoughtfully from Turkey, India, Indonesia, Greece, France, China and more. We prioritize sourcing vintage, antique, and one-of-a-kind objects made from reclaimed and natural materials. Most of our objects have lived many lives, and therefore come with unique patina, character, and wear.”
Do you remember the small stone animal trough fountain that we installed 13 years ago on the patio of our former Newport Beach home? It’s still in style!
It was one of my favorite things of Our Beach Cottage Remodel Highlights. This old post, from when I first start blogging, with the blurry photos makes me cringe a bit 🙂
I’d like to have a fountain near the front porch of our new house, so I have been researching.
Here are some stone and stone-like fountains that are ready-made. I am thinking that you could add stones or shells to some of these for an organic look.
What To Read: The Unwedding by Ally Condie
This is a Reese’s bookclub recommendation and I usually like those. What about you? I borrowed this on the Libby app (free with a library card). Sometimes you have to wait for a book, but I don’t mind.
It’s a murder mystery…Ellery Wainwright and her husband, Luke, were supposed to spend their twentieth wedding anniversary together at a resort in Big Sur, California. But her marriage starts to crumble and she decides to go on her own. Then she discovers a body floating in the pool.
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Let’s see what my friends have discovered this week:
Woo hoo! Congrats to you and Howard on becoming grandparents again! Love a sheet pan recipe. Also love learning about Olive Ateliers. We’re looking for water feature inspiration for our new backyard. xo
You would like this place, Juliet!
Congratulations on becoming a grandma the second time around! I’m wondering if your grand babies had come along before you moved to Fl., if you would have been able to make the move. 🥰. I think I get jet lagged trying to keep up with you and Howard. The chicken/chickpea recipe looks yummy—two of my favorite things.
Well, the jet lag is real Susan!!
p.s. Silicone cutting mats, too: to avoid ingesting plastics from food prep per Consumer Reports. I bought a set from Amazon 5 months ago and have been surprised with how much I like them, as I did not like their floppy quality compared to traditional wood or poly boards. A bit expensive when sold in a set of 3, but very durable.
What a lovely photo with your newborn grandson!
Mercedes’ recipe looks fantastic and HEALTHY: I love substituting chickpeas for less nutritious carbs while boosting one’s protein and fiber.
I love having a fountain in my garden/yard: when we lived in Riverside, CA 10+ years ago, we plumbed a hidden faucet behind our fountain so we could readily refill it. Your trough fountain still looks TERRIFIC! Very Old France vibe yet it could go contemporary or traditional. BTW, I don’t think your older photo looks blurry: maybe it is just a bit more focused on the foreground hydrangea?
ENJOY your family time!
It’s the old post that I linked to that’s blurry.
Hi Mary Ann,
Oh wow Leo is so sweet sleeping in your arms.
Beautifully baby, but what else would you expect with attractive parents.
Mercedes looks like the best cook, what a special friend that you have that share the same interests.
The fountains by “Olive Ateliers” looks like a great place to buy a fountain. The stone fountain you had in your Newport Beach home is fabulous, it has so much character.
The chickpea and chicken dish looks delicious! It is also interesting and different. Thanks for sharing.
I am curious to know what you think about “The Unwedding “? I recently read it for anew neighborhood book club. I liked the premise, the setting in Big Sur and the tie in to art on the property but I felt the “mystery” fell short.
Enjoy your new grandson!
The recipe sounds great! Can’t wait to try it. Have fun with your grandson! They grow up too fast!
I know. Leo is so tiny but it won’t last for long!
So many good things today Mary Ann! Mercedes recipe, must try that this week. It’s so nice that you get together so often to share a meal! It takes the pressure off! It’s more like having family over! Love the store-bought dessert. We buy those at the grocery store all over France, but I never see them here! I’ll look again!
Enjoy your time in LA with your new grand baby!!
Xx
Yes, Annie, we call them “Family By Choice.”