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Chicken Of The Woods Recipe

Even though many people have heard about Chicken of the Woods, they may not know what it really is or how to make it.

So if you’re looking for more information on this unique and delicious dish, keep reading!

Chicken Of The Woods Recipe

What Kind Of Chicken Is Used In This Recipe?

In order to make Chicken of the Woods, you need to use fresh chicken.

You will see recipes online where using frozen chicken is suggested.

While this isn’t wrong, we don’t recommend it because the flavor profile won’t work as well.

When shopping for your chicken, look for a brand like Trader Joe’s.

In addition to having great prices, their chickens are raised in an environmentally conscious manner.

The company has been named one of “America’s Most Ethical Companies” by Ethisphere Magazine four times since 2006.

They also have a commitment to sourcing only free-range birds from farmers who follow strict animal welfare standards.

This means that these animals live outside all day without any shelter except for natural sunlight.

How long does Chicken of the Woods take to cook?

This recipe takes less than 20 minutes to complete.

That being said, even when done at its best, Chicken of the Woods still needs some help getting tender.

So while this recipe should technically only take around 15 minutes, it’ll sometimes require closer to 30 minutes.

Because of this, we recommend keeping an eye on the food so that you aren’t left waiting too long between servings.

Can I substitute other ingredients?

If you want to change up the flavors in this recipe, you absolutely can.

For example, instead of using white wine, try red wine.

Alternatively, swap out the lemon zest for lime juice.

But remember that Lemon Zest + Lime Juice = Tarter Than Tartar Sauce, which might ruin the flavor balance of your dish.

Another way to add variety to your meal is to switch up the herbs.

If you love thyme but hate parsley, then feel free to use oregano instead.

Or maybe rosemary will sound better to you than basil.

But whatever you decide to do, just make sure to taste test before serving because this recipe is incredibly sensitive to variations in flavor.

And lastly, you could always serve this with mashed potatoes or rice pilaf.

Chicken Of The Woods Recipe

What Is The Cooking Time For This Recipe?

This recipe should take around 30 minutes to prepare.

You will need to marinate your chicken overnight before baking it.

If you are using boneless skinless breasts, then you will only need to bake them for 15-20 minutes.

The meat has to be cooked until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).

Some chefs prefer their chicken cooked at 180 degrees Fahrenheit (82 degrees Celsius) but most recipes call for the lower temperature because there isn’t much difference between the two temperatures.

If you want to use bone-in pieces of chicken, then you will need to add an additional 20 minutes to the cooking time.

This recipe calls for four 4-ounce portions of chicken so each piece needs to be cooked for 18 minutes per pound.

What Is The Best Way To Cook Chicken Of The Woods?

Chicken of the Woods has been around since the 1800s as an African-American delicacy.

The exact origin isn’t known but some believe it originated from West Africa.

However, others think it was brought over by slaves when they were first imported into America during the 1700s.

The name “Chickens of the Woods” comes from the fact that these chickens were initially raised in plantations where there were trees nearby.

This allowed them to eat food found in the forest such as acorns, berries, and insects.

However, due to changes in farming methods and environmental degradation, most of the forests have disappeared in the United States.

Nowadays, Chicken of the Woods recipes must be prepared using supermarket ingredients like boneless skinless chicken breasts, white onions, celery, green bell peppers, red bell peppers, garlic cloves, fresh parsley, salt, pepper, olive oil, lemon juice, and water.

If you want to learn how to prepare this dish, check out the video below which will show you different steps involved in making the Chicken of the Woods meal.

How to Make Chicken of the Woods

  • Wash all vegetables thoroughly.
  • Remove any visible fat from the meat.
  • Cut the onion into quarters then thinly slice each quarter lengthwise.
  • Slice the rest of your veggies (celery, bell peppers, and garlic) into thin slices.
  • Put all ingredients except the chicken breast into a bowl and mix well.
  • Place the chicken in a pan and pour half of the marinade mixture over it.
  • Mix together until everything is coated.
  • Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and place in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius).
  • Cook the chicken for 1 hour 15 minutes.
  • After one hour, remove the pan from the oven and let cool slightly before cutting up the chicken and serving.
Chicken Of The Woods Recipe

What Are The Ingredients Needed For This Recipe?

Chicken of the Woods Recipe Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup (50g) butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 5 ounces frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
  • 6 ounces frozen peas
  • 10 ounces diced cooked chicken breast
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves

The remaining ingredients are optional but recommended as they will add flavor to your dish.

  • Panko breadcrumbs
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Bacon bits
  • Reduced fat sour cream

What Is The Nutritional Value Of This Recipe?

Chicken of the Woods has less calories than other meals, but also contains protein, fiber, iron, zinc, vitamin B-6, Vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, copper, manganese, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, folate, thiamine, ribose, and amino acids like arginine, histidine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, alanine, glycine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, and glutamine.

The main ingredient of Chicken of the Woods is a mushroom called “Amanita muscaria.”

The mushroom itself is known by several different names, including “Fly Agaric,” “Magic Mushroom,” and “Mushroom of the Sages.”

This mushroom contains compounds which produce psychedelic effects when eaten.

However, these mushrooms contain no THC (a psychoactive compound found in cannabis).

Because of its high content of nutrients, Chicken of the Woods is an excellent meal to include in your diet.

You should consider adding it to your menu once every few weeks to help improve your overall health.

What Are The Health Benefits Of This Recipe?

Chicken of the Woods contains numerous nutrients that help boost your immune system.

These include vitamins C, B6, D, E, zinc, as well as minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, copper, manganese, and more.

It also has antioxidants such as flavonoids, carotenoids, and polyphenols.

Flavonoids and carotenoids work together to fight free radicals, which could lead to cancer, heart disease, stroke, cataracts, skin damage, and diabetes.

The high levels of vitamin A found in this dish will reduce inflammation in the body while promoting healthy vision and bone growth.

Vitamin E helps prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging, and calcium promotes strong bones and teeth.

This recipe doesn’t just provide these essential vitamins and nutrients — it provides them at an optimal level.

The USDA recommends consuming two servings per day of fruits and vegetables.

This recipe meets those guidelines by providing six servings of fruit and five servings of veggies.

Healthy cooking tips for Chicken of the Woods

  • You should eat fresh produce whenever possible.
  • If you don’t have access to fresh food, frozen and canned options offer similar nutrient counts to fresh.
  • Cutting down on sugar intake is important when trying to stay healthy.
  • While there isn’t any sugar added to this recipe, some sauces contain sweeteners.
  • Keep track of what you consume using a food journal so you can see where you might need to cut back.
  • If you want to lose weight, avoid processed foods.
  • Instead, opt for whole foods (like grass-fed beef) and recipes that use unprocessed ingredients.

What Are The Risks Associated With This Recipe?

A lot of different ingredients go into making Chicken of the Woods.

The risk of getting sick from consuming these foods stems largely from bacteria found within them because the process of growing these plants creates an environment that encourages growth of these pathogens.

In fact, there have been cases where people who ate tainted versions of this food developed symptoms similar to those experienced by victims after eating E.

coli-contaminated meat products.

While the chance of actually contracting such diseases as salmonella or listeriosis is remote, the risks of doing so are real enough for consumers to take caution before purchasing any version of this product.

If you want to learn even more about the possible dangers of eating this meal, read our guide here.

How do you cook it?

The most basic way to prepare Chicken of the Woods is through roasting it whole.

This method involves taking the entire bird and sticking it directly over a fire until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 C).

At this point, you then remove the bird from the heat source and allow it to cool down naturally.

Once cooled, you can cut off the legs, wings, and breasts and save them for another use.

You should also carve out the neck, breastbone, and backbone, and discard them.

If you don’t feel comfortable using your oven, you could always try to roast it at home instead.

Just follow the same instructions above but place it directly onto the coals and let it sit there for roughly 30 minutes before removing it from the heat and allowing it to cool down.

Another option would be to use a slow cooker.

Simply put all of the pieces of chicken into the crockpot and fill it up with water.

Cook on low heat for four hours and then drain excess liquid before placing the bird back inside.

Allow it to rest overnight before carving and discarding the bones.

What Are Some Common Mistakes Made When Cooking This Recipe?

When preparing Chicken of the Woods, there are several things you need to consider before starting your preparation process.

One thing to note is that this recipe isn’t just one-dimensional.

The ingredients used will vary depending on which type of sauce you choose to use.

  • If you want to prepare a “traditional” version of this recipe, then you should definitely start by cutting up all of your chicken parts into bite-sized pieces.
  • The next step is to place these pieces onto a baking sheet until all of them are covered with marinade.
  • You could also do this in a slow cooker.
  • Once everything has been coated with the marinade, put the entire pan/slow cooker inside an oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 Celsius) for 25 minutes.
  • After this time has elapsed, remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
  • This cooling period is important because it allows you to safely handle the now-cooked chicken without causing any potential burns.
  • Next, cut off the excess fat around each piece of chicken using kitchen shears.
  • Now, take another large mixing bowl and add enough water to cover the bottom.
  • Place all of the chicken back into the bowl and let it soak for 15 minutes.
  • Take out the chicken and carefully drain off the water.
  • Repeat this procedure until all of the chicken is thoroughly soaked.
  • Place the chicken pieces back into the same bowl as well as any other sauces you wish to incorporate.
  • Mix together all of the ingredients in the bowl.
  • Put the chicken back into the refrigerator overnight so that it has time to marinate properly.
  • The morning after, drain off any remaining liquid from the bowl and place it back into the fridge again.
  • This draining process helps to ensure that the flavor of the chicken won’t get lost during its storage period.

This entire process takes approximately 24 hours but is worth every second.

If you don’t follow this particular order throughout, you risk losing some of the flavors and aromas that come along with the finished product.

What Are Some Tips For Making This Recipe?

This recipe calls for three main ingredients: mushrooms, onions, and thyme.

You will also need:

  • Chicken thighs (boneless)
  • Salt & pepper
  • Olive oil
  • Butter
  • Onion powder
  • Flour
  • Wine
  • Chicken stock
  • White wine vinegar
  • Parsley
  • Red onion
  • Garlic

The first step is to clean your chicken pieces by rinsing them under cold water.

Next, season both sides of each piece with salt and black pepper.

The next thing you want to do is heat up half an inch of olive oil over medium-high heat.

Once hot enough, add in your chicken pieces and sear until golden brown all around.

Next, remove from the pan and set aside.

In the same pan, melt two tablespoons of butter along with one tablespoon of flour.

Whisk together until smooth and then slowly pour in one cup of chicken stock while whisking continuously.

After adding the stock, return your chicken back into the pan and cover with aluminum foil.

Cook covered at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.

After thirty minutes, uncover the pan and turn down the temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Add in another cup of chicken stock and cook uncovered for 20 additional minutes.

Remove from the stove and let cool completely before slicing.

To serve, place slices onto a plate and garnish with parsley and red onions.

How Can This Recipe Be Modified To Fit Different Dietary Needs?

This recipe can easily be adapted to accommodate any type of diet by choosing your own favorite ingredients.

For example, if someone wants to avoid gluten, then they could use quinoa instead of rice flour, and skip the eggs (which contains egg protein).

Or if someone doesn’t want to eat animal products, they could choose to substitute the ground turkey with another meat source like beans or lentils.

Vegan version:

  • 1 cup uncooked brown rice
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 2 cups cooked spinach leaves
  • Salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste

Gluten free version:

  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • Ground Turkey Breast, cut into bite sized pieces
  • Cooked green beans, asparagus or peas, sliced thin

Allergy friendly version:

  • 1 cup uncooked wild rice
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • Ground Turkey Breast, cut into bite sized pieces
  • Cooked green beans, asparagus or peas, sliced thin
Chicken Of The Woods Recipe

Chicken Of The Woods

If you’re looking for a simple chicken of the woods recipe, this one is for you. It only takes a few ingredients to make a delicious dish.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Course: Seasoning, Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chicken Of The Woods
Servings: 4
Calories: 39kcal

Equipment

  • large saute pan

Ingredients

  • tbsp butter or olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ pound Chicken of the Woods mushrooms cleaned and sliced into strips
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Melt the butter or olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the garlic until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes, once the oil is hot.
  • Add the smoked paprika, salt, and pepper, then the chicken of the woods. Stir until the spices evenly coat the mushroom strips. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms have softened.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste, then transfer to a serving bowl and serve. ENJOY!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 39kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.4g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 10mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.04g | Vitamin A: 254IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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