10 March, 2021

Maple Mustard Chicken Thighs

Comments : 3 Posted in : American, Chicken on March 10, 2021 by : Cook Plate Fork Tags: baked chicken, Chicken Thighs, Dijon mustard, dinner, grainy mustard, Maple syrup, marinade, mustard, Sauce, sweet and spicy

Marinades are a fantastic way to add delicious flavor to any meat.

And these Maple Mustard Chicken Thighs are coated in a sweet and tangy marinade and then baked.

They are super juicy with tons of flavor.

Chicken thighs are easier to cook. Even if they reach an internal temperature of 180 degrees, they’ll still be juicy.

Left over thigh meat when warmed is still juicy and tender as well.

With its unique sweet flavor, pure maple syrup can be used in both sweet and savory culinary applications.

It can be used as a replacement for other sweeteners in a variety of desserts and baked goods, such as pies and cakes.

It can even be used as an ingredient in a sweet and spicy sauce or marinade. Such as, a traditional Dijon and a grainy old style mustard.

About Maple Syrup

Scientists have identified over 67 different polyphenols (plant compounds), at which nine of of them are unique to pure maple syrup.

Polyphenols act as antioxidants, which neutralize harmful free radicals that can damage your body’s healthy cells and increase your risk for disease (Source).

Pure maple syrup is an excellent source of manganese, riboflavin, calcium, thiamin, potassium, and copper.

With the beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, maple syrup is a great sugar substitute when baking.

With the beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, maple syrup is a great sugar substitute in any recipe.

Though maple syrup matches the sweetness of cane sugar, the out come of your recipe can be affected, as the syrup’s consistency is much thinner than cane syrup.

Read more here: How To Use Maple Syrup in Baking

Facts About Mustard

As members of Brassica or Sinapis genera, mustard plants are a close relative to a variety of common vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, and cabbage.

When the Romans conquered the Gauls, they brought mustard seeds with them, and these seeds took root in the fertile soil of France’s Burgundy region.

By the 13th century, a city named Dijon had emerged and became the hub of mustard production, which laid the foundation for the invention of the region’s signature – Dijon mustard.

Crushed mustard seeds vary in color from a pale yellow to a dark brown depending on their variety.

The common and traditional color we see in the mustard we buy at the store is due to the addition of turmeric.

What Makes Mustard Spicy

By nature, mustard seeds are spicy.

When the seeds are crushed, an enzyme called myrosinase is released, creating a mustard oil.

The combination of crushed seeds and cold water results in a mustard oil that accounts for the heat or spiciness.

About 15 minutes of mixing the crushed seed with water, the spicy flavor quickly declines.

So an acidic element is added to the prepared mustard to delay or stop this decline.

Maple Mustard Chicken Thighs

Now that you know about the sweet and spicy in Maple Mustard Chicken – here’s the recipe.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Rinse chicken and pat dry. Combine mustard, garlic, marjoram and maple syrup in a small bowl.

Spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons mustard mixture evenly on top of each chicken thigh, being careful to cover as much of the surface as possible to form a “crust.”

Arrange chicken in a glass baking dish.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until mustard mixture has formed a crust and is slightly hardened, and juices run clear when the chicken is pierced.