- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 lemon
- 3 tsp sumach
- 2 chicken thighs & 2 drumsticks
- 1 carrot
- 1 onion
- 1 celery stick
- 400g tin of green lentils
- A large handful of flat leaf parsley
- 1 shallot
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp caster sugar
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 250g cherry tomatoes
- 100g baby leaf spinach
- 1 chicken stock cube
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp cold water
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 150ml boiling water
- 1.
Heat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Peel and grate one garlic clove into a bowl. Zest in the lemon and squeeze in half the juice. Add 2 tsp sumach and ½ tbsp olive oil. Add plenty of salt and pepper.
- 2.
Make 3 or 4 deep slashes in each chicken thigh and drumstick. Rub in the sumach marinade, working some into the cuts. Place the thighs and drumsticks into a baking dish. Roast for 25 mins.
- 3.
While the chicken is cooking, peel and finely chop the carrot and onion. Finely chop the celery stick. Peel and grate the remaining garlic clove. Drain and rinse the lentils.
- 4.
Heat a deep frying pan. When warm, drizzle in ½ tbsp olive oil. Add the carrot, onion and celery. Cook on a low heat for 15 mins till the veg have softened. Take off the heat and set aside.
- 5.
While the veg is gently cooking, finely chop the parsley leaves and stalks. Place into a bowl. Peel and finely chop the shallot and add that with 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp caster sugar and 2 tbsp red wine vinegar. Pour in 1 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp cold water. Add a good pinch of salt and pepper and mix well. This is your green sauce. Set aside.
- 6.
When the chicken has cooked for 25 mins, add the cherry tomatoes to the tin. Return to the oven and roast for a further 15 mins. The chicken should be cooked through, with crisp skins.
- 7.
When the chicken has 5 mins left to cook, add the grated garlic to the softened veg. Stir. Crumble in ½ the chicken stock cube and pour in 150ml boiling water. Put back on the heat and bring to a bubble. Add the lentils and gently stir. Cook for 3 mins to warm the lentils through. Add the baby leaf spinach to the lentils and stir to just wilt it.
- 8.
Spoon the braised lentils on to two warm plates or bowl. Top with a chicken thigh and drumstick each. Add the roasted tomatoes. Serve with the tart green sauce and a pinch of sumach sprinkled over the top.