Georgian Walnut Chicken with Roasted Eggplant

A practical Georgian-inspired sheet-pan dinner of crisp-edged chicken thighs, peak-August eggplant and tomatoes, finished with a punchy cilantro-walnut sauce.

Ingredients

  • Foster Farms Fresh & Natural Chicken Thighs Value Pack
    1.25 pounds $1.29
  • Eggplant
    1 medium (about 1 pound) $1.99
  • Fresh On the Vine Red Tomatoes
    12 ounces $2.49
  • Jumbo Yellow Onion
    4 ounces $0.99
  • Organic Cilantro
    6 tablespoons chopped $1.69
  • Garlic
    3 cloves $0.79
  • Walnut pieces
    1/3 cup
  • Olive oil
    3 tablespoons
  • Red wine vinegar
    1 tablespoon
  • Water
    2 tablespoons
  • Ground coriander
    1 teaspoon
  • Smoked paprika
    1 teaspoon
  • Cayenne pepper
    1/8 teaspoon
  • Kosher salt
    1 1/2 teaspoons
  • Black pepper
    1/2 teaspoon

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 425°F and line a large rimmed sheet pan. Cut 1 medium eggplant into 1-inch chunks and slice 4 ounces yellow onion into thick wedges.
  2. Arrange the prepared vegetables around 1.25 pounds chicken thighs, leaving the thighs skin-side up. Rub everything with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper; roast for 25 minutes.
  3. Quarter 12 ounces tomatoes, add them to the pan, and toss them gently with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Roast for 12–15 minutes more, until the vegetables are browned and the thickest thigh reaches at least 165°F, preferably 175°F for tenderness.
  4. While the pan finishes roasting, finely chop or pulse 1/3 cup walnut pieces, 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro, 3 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons water and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt into a coarse spoonable sauce.
  5. Remove the pan from the oven and rest everything for 5 minutes. Spoon all of the prepared sauce over the rested food.
  6. Divide everything from the sheet pan between two plates, scatter with 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, and serve hot.

Total time: 55 minutes

Estimated cost: $8–$10 total for 2 servings

Health notes: About 750 calories per serving, with roughly 45 grams of protein plus fiber and healthy fats from the vegetables and walnuts.

Drink pairing: A lightly chilled Saperavi complements the savory roasted chicken, smoky eggplant and tart walnut sauce.