Native to Africa and common in tropical regions across Asia, tamarind lends an unmistakable sour-sweet taste to everything from stir-fries to candy—and it's what gives this chicken its sticky, glossy quality and its unmistakable flavor. Tamarind is commonly sold as blocks of pulp or in jars of concentrate. This recipe calls for the latter, which is thin and seedless, but if you can find only the pulp, cook it down with equal parts water for 10–15 minutes until it’s the texture of caramel, then strain out the seeds. Brush any leftover tamarind onto whole fish before roasting, or lacquer it onto bone-in pork chops. One commonly available brand is Swad, which you can find at South Asian and West Indian grocery stores, Whole Foods, or on Amazon. This recipe is part of the 2021 Feel Good Food Plan, our eight-day dinner plan for starting the year off right.
Recipe information
Yield
4 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375°. Place chicken in a large bowl and season all over with salt; set aside.
Step 2
Blend chiles, ginger, garlic, tamarind concentrate, coconut aminos, agave, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ½ cup orange juice in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until glaze is sticky and easily coats a spoon, 6–8 minutes. Let cool. Pour glaze over chicken and toss to coat.
Step 3
Pour 2 Tbsp. oil into a large skillet and, using tongs, arrange chicken, skin side down, in pan, leaving excess glaze behind in bowl. Cook, undisturbed, over medium heat, until skin is browned and crisp, 10–12 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.
Step 4
Let skillet cool 5 minutes, then arrange sweet potatoes in an even, slightly overlapping layer in pan. Season with salt and add 2 Tbsp water. Place chicken, skin side up, on top. Transfer pan to oven and roast until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear when flesh is pierced with the tip of a small knife, 10–12 minutes. Let rest in pan 10 minutes.
Step 5
While the chicken is resting, toss collard greens, remaining 3 Tbsp. orange juice, and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in a large bowl to combine; season with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Lightly massage greens with your hands to soften slightly.
Step 6
Serve chicken and sweet potatoes with collard greens salad alongside.
