Senegalese Chicken with Black-Eyed Peas and Avocado-Zucchini Relish

PreparationSenegalese Chicken Combine the onions, 2 tbsp of the peanut oil, the lemon juice, salt, pepper to taste, and chile in a glass baking dish. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour, or cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. (If refrigerating, return the chicken to room temperature for 30 minutes or so to take the chill off before cooking.) Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Reserve the marinade. Heat 1 tbsp of the peanut oil in a 12-in/30-cm or larger cast-iron frying pan or a 5-qt/5-l or larger Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, lay the thighs in the pan, skin-side down, and cook, turning frequently, for 10 minutes or until nicely browned on both sides. Transfer the chicken to a plate, pour off any excess fat, and wipe away any burned bits in the pan. Add the remaining 1 tbsp peanut oil to the pan, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the onions from the marinade (discard the liquid) and the fenugreek seeds (if using) and sauté for 10 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan, skin-side up, along with the stock. Raise the heat to medium, cover, and cook for 30 minutes. Insert either an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of a thigh or cut into a thigh with a paring knife. The thermometer should register 175°F/80°C. If using a knife, look for clear, not red or pink, juices running from the spot where you pierced the meat and opaque, barely pink flesh at the bone. Serve by piling the onions on individual plates and putting the chicken on top. Black-Eyed Peas Rinse the peas in a colander, keeping an eye out for stray rocks. Bring a large saucepan three-fourths full of water to a boil over high heat. Add the peas and cook until just tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Drain well and set aside. In the same pan you cooked the peas in, heat the peanut oil and add the chiles, bell pepper, and green onions. Cook for 30 seconds over high heat, add the vinegar, and cook for 30 seconds longer before returning the peas to the pan. Reheat briefly before serving or eat them at room temperature. They're terrific either way. Avocado-Zucchini Relish Combine the avocado, chile, kosher salt, celery seeds, green onions, radishes, and olive oil in a bowl. Toss to mix well. Add the zucchini, toss again, and top with a pinch of flaky salt just before serving. From Poulet: More Than 50 Remarkable Meals That Exalt the Honest Chicken by Cree LaFavour. Text copyright © 2011 by Cree LaFavour. Published by Chronicle Books LLC.

PreparationSenegalese Chicken Combine the onions, 2 tbsp of the peanut oil, the lemon juice, salt, pepper to taste, and chile in a glass baking dish. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour, or cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. (If refrigerating, return the chicken to room temperature for 30 minutes or so to take the chill off before cooking.) Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Reserve the marinade. Heat 1 tbsp of the peanut oil in a 12-in/30-cm or larger cast-iron frying pan or a 5-qt/5-l or larger Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, lay the thighs in the pan, skin-side down, and cook, turning frequently, for 10 minutes or until nicely browned on both sides. Transfer the chicken to a plate, pour off any excess fat, and wipe away any burned bits in the pan. Add the remaining 1 tbsp peanut oil to the pan, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the onions from the marinade (discard the liquid) and the fenugreek seeds (if using) and sauté for 10 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan, skin-side up, along with the stock. Raise the heat to medium, cover, and cook for 30 minutes. Insert either an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of a thigh or cut into a thigh with a paring knife. The thermometer should register 175°F/80°C. If using a knife, look for clear, not red or pink, juices running from the spot where you pierced the meat and opaque, barely pink flesh at the bone. Serve by piling the onions on individual plates and putting the chicken on top. Black-Eyed Peas Rinse the peas in a colander, keeping an eye out for stray rocks. Bring a large saucepan three-fourths full of water to a boil over high heat. Add the peas and cook until just tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Drain well and set aside. In the same pan you cooked the peas in, heat the peanut oil and add the chiles, bell pepper, and green onions. Cook for 30 seconds over high heat, add the vinegar, and cook for 30 seconds longer before returning the peas to the pan. Reheat briefly before serving or eat them at room temperature. They're terrific either way. Avocado-Zucchini Relish Combine the avocado, chile, kosher salt, celery seeds, green onions, radishes, and olive oil in a bowl. Toss to mix well. Add the zucchini, toss again, and top with a pinch of flaky salt just before serving. From Poulet: More Than 50 Remarkable Meals That Exalt the Honest Chicken by Cree LaFavour. Text copyright © 2011 by Cree LaFavour. Published by Chronicle Books LLC.