Seder Chicken with Prunes
A traditional, comforting holiday braise featuring tender chicken pieces simmered in a sweet and savory prune sauce.
Ingredients
- •1 whole chicken (about 3-4 lbs or 1.5-1.8 kg), cut into 8 pieces
- •2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- •2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- •2 cups pitted prunes (dried plums)
- •1 cup chicken broth
- •1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- •2 tablespoons brown sugar
- •1 tablespoon lemon juice
- •1 teaspoon salt
- •1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- •1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- 1
Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels and season them lightly with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
- 2
Heat the vegetable oil in a large, wide Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
- 3
Add the chicken pieces in a single layer and sear until golden brown on both sides, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken and set aside on a plate.
- 4
In the same pot with the remaining pan drippings, add the sliced onions and sauté over medium heat until soft and translucent, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- 5
Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pot, nestling them among the onions.
- 6
Add the pitted prunes, chicken broth, fresh orange juice, brown sugar, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and ground cinnamon to the pot.
- 7
Bring the liquid to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 40 minutes, turning the chicken once halfway through.
- 8
Remove the lid and simmer for an additional 10 to 15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and the prunes to become meltingly tender.
- 9
Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve warm.
💡 Chef tips
- This dish tastes even better when made a day in advance and gently reheated before serving.
- You can substitute part of the orange juice with dry red wine or sweet Manischewitz wine for a deeper holiday flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished dish features melt-in-your-mouth tender chicken surrounded by a rich, glossy mahogany sauce that perfectly balances sweet fruit notes with savory aromatics.