Miso and Ginger Glazed Chicken with Soba Noodles

My kids love chicken, but they hate being bored.  Luckily chicken thighs are loaded with flavor, are easy to dress up or down, and love a great marinade.  I always keep some n the freezer.

I've been cooking with miso for a while now, and love the rich, savory taste it lends to fish, chicken, and vegetables. Whisked together with aromatics like ginger, garlic, and orange, miso-based marinades are dynamite.  This recipe is simple to make but beautiful to look at and a delight to eat.  Plan ahead - marinate the chicken overnight on Monday for a next-level Tuesday night dinner.  Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour and have a rich flavor and loads of nutrition.  They love a good sauce, and this one fits the bill.  Add roasted broccolini or asparagus and you have a complete, delicious, and good-for-you meal.

Miso paste is fermented and found in the refrigerate aisle at Whole Foods or your local Asian grocery.  Soba noodles and nori are dry and found pretty much in every grocery these days on the international aisle.

Serves 6

8-10 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs

1 sheet of nori

5 cloves garlic, pressed or grated

2 inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated

1 tbsp. red miso paste

3 tbsp. honey

1 tbsp. sesame oil

3 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 tbsp. orange zest

1 tsp. black pepper

1 package soba noodles

Sesame seeds, for garnish

Purple basil leaves, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Dry the chicken and trim any excess fat or skin.  

2. Crumble the nori sheets with your hands until flaked and measure out 1 tablespoon,.  Whisk together with the miso paste, garlic, ginger, honey, sesame oil, soy sauce, crushed red pepper, orange zest, and black pepper.  

3.  Place the chicken in a large bowl, deep casserole, or gallon zip lock bags and pour the marinade all over the chicken.  Make sure the chicken is coated on all sides, then cover with plastic wrap or seal the bag and marinate overnight or for at least 6 hours.

4.  When the chicken is marinated, preheat oven to 350F.

5.  Remove the chicken from the marinade and place in a roasting pan, casserole, or steel pan.  Pour the marinade over the chicken.  Bake chicken for 45-50 minutes, basting with pan juices about every 12-15 minutes.

6. While the chicken is baking, prepare the soba noodles according to the directions on the package.  You may also choose to roast broccoli, broccolini, asparagus, of the vegetable of your choice to serve alongside the chicken.

7.  When the chicken is nicely lacquered and fully cooked. Remove from the oven.  Place the soba noodles in your serving dish and put the chicken on top.  Pour over any sauce that is in pan.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds and the purple basil and serve with the roasted vegetables.