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.
This recipe may need another look before cooking.
It scored 6/10, below our 8/10 retry mark.
Ingredients
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Foster Farms Fresh & Natural Chicken Thighs Value Pack1.25 pounds $1.29
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Eggplant1 medium (about 1 pound) $1.99
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Fresh On the Vine Red Tomatoes12 ounces $2.49
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Jumbo Yellow Onion4 ounces $0.99
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Organic Cilantro6 tablespoons chopped $1.69
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Garlic3 cloves $0.79
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Walnut pieces1/3 cup
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Olive oil3 tablespoons
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Red wine vinegar1 tablespoon
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Water2 tablespoons
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Ground coriander1 teaspoon
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Smoked paprika1 teaspoon
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Cayenne pepper1/8 teaspoon
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Kosher salt1 1/2 teaspoons
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Black pepper1/2 teaspoon
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remove the pan from the oven and rest everything for 5 minutes. Spoon all of the prepared sauce over the rested food.
- 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.