I adapted this chicken with peaches and ginger recipe from The New York Times. It’s a delicious combination of sweet and savory flavors and I haven’t tinkered with the ingredients very much.
On the other hand, the preparation and cooking instructions were a problem. The original recipe called for slicing up the chicken thighs into strips, then baking it at high temperature for 20 minutes. I did that the first time I made this and ended up with dry chicken!
The instructions also said to use hard peaches, because unripe peaches are easier to handle and cut up. They probably are, but they’re not as juicy and they don’t taste as nearly as good.
So, I changed the baking time and temperature and swapped hard peaches for ripe ones.
I have used both sherry and brandy for this recipe (though I think the sherry is better). The brandy is sweeter, so it’s a better option if your peaches aren’t as sweet as they should be. You could also use Cointreau if you have some. I don’t drink enough of any of those to make it worth getting a large bottle, so I get the airline size bottles or at least the smallest bottle I can find.
The revised recipe takes a bit longer, but it’s easy to put together, and doesn’t require a lot of stirring or cutting or steps to make. Just mix up the cut peaches, basil, garlic, brandy, and oil, pour the mixture over the chicken, and throw the whole thing in the oven for an hour.
Make some rice to go with it on the side and maybe some green beans and you’ve got a great, easy dinner. It’s also easy to scale this up for company.
Chicken with Peaches and Ginger for One
Sweet and spicy chicken with peaches, basil, and ginger for one.
Notes
If you have extra ginger, you can freeze it. Or, store it in some dry sherry.
If you scale it up, this chicken dish is great for company. Just cut everything up and put it in the oven.
Serve it with rice.
Ingredients
- 1 medium size ripe peach
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 tsp dry fino sherry
- 2 tsp fresh basil, chopped, plus a sprig for garnish
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- 1/4 inch fresh ginger, grated
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 1 chicken thigh
Instructions
- Preheat the oven (or toaster oven) to 350 degrees.
- Cut the peach into chunks and discard the pit.
- Put the peach pieces to a small bowl and add the rest of the ingredients (except for the chicken).
- Stir the olive oil and peach mixture to combine and coat the garlic pieces.
- Place the chicken in a small baking pan (or the tray from your toaster oven) and pour the peach mixture over it.
- Roast chicken for one hour.
- Garnish with remaining basil.
More Chicken Thigh Recipes for One Person
Chicken with Olives and Tomatoes for One
A Jewish recipe from North Africa (yes really). A bit more zesty than you might expect, with salty olives, sharp garlic, and a rich tomato sauce.
An Asian-inspired tangle of bright, crispy veggies with the sweetness of mango. Ready in minutes.
Vietnamese Baked Chicken with Lime
Garlic, ginger, and a dash of chili garlic sauce add heat, softened by the sweet citrusy lime. Mix together a marinade, let it sit, and then bake.
Crispy Lemon Chicken Thigh Recipe for One
A bit like fried chicken, without any frying. It’s sweet, crispy, and great either hot or cold.