Oven Roasted Orange Chicken with Fennel

Hello, I’m Keely! I'm a Canadian Registered Dietitian, an avid food and recipe writer, travel bug and nutrition expert. For more information about me, check out my bio here.

I love the combination of fennel and citrus together, whether it's a salad or oven roasted like this Orange Chicken with Fennel recipe. The first time I had this dish was in France, when my mother in law (a culinary genius) made it for lunch one day. Trust me when I tell you, the French never disappoint when it comes to food. Each time I visit, I discover something new and totally delicious that I never knew was a "thing" and love it!

Most home cooked meals in France are prepared with humble ingredients. The secret is choosing the very best quality ingredients you can afford. It may JUST be a potato, but if you buy it at a market in France, it's going to be the best damn potato you've ever tasted! And you'll say "wow- they don't grow potatoes like that where I come from!" Unless, you're from Idaho.... in which case, you probably have a very refined palate when it comes to potatoes, so you may be more difficult to impress.

All this to say that, this recipe for Oven Roasted Orange Chicken with Fennel was inspired by a dish I discovered while eating in France. The flavour combination surprised me, and I loved every bite. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Bon Appetite!

ANY TIPS FOR MAKING THIS OVEN ROASTED ORANGE CHICKEN WITH FENNEL?

My only tip for making this dish is that you must let it marinade overnight to really give you that wow factor! Just an hour or 2 in the marinade is not going to cut it. Commit to the process. Lean in.

CAN I MAKE THIS RECIPE WITHOUT ALCOHOL?

You could, but it might taste a bit "meh". Pastis is the super extra special ingredient in this recipe, that adds a delicious anise flavour and brings everything together. If you can't find Pastis where you live, substitute another anise flavoured liquor like Ouzo, Sambuca, etc.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED

In addition to some chicken (bone in, skin on), you will need: 2 oranges, 1 lemon, 1 large bulb of fennel, some carrots, a few cloves of garlic, some grainy mustard and 1/3 cup of Pastis.

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Keely Fraser, PDt. PhD.
Registered Dietitian

INGREDIENTS

800 g chicken (legs, thighs or drumsticks, skin on)
1 large bulb of fennel, cut into1 cm wide slices
4 carrots, peeled and sliced into sticks
3 Tbsp Olive oil
Juice of one orange
1 orange, peel on, sliced into rounds,
2 Tbsp fresh squeeze lemon juice
2 Tbsp grainy mustard
1 Tbsp fennel seeds
1 tsp dried thyme
3 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/3 cup Pastis
1/4 tsp salt
pepper to taste

Oven Roasted Orange Chicken with Fennel

Recipe Makes: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
Marinade Time: Overnight
Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
Difficulty: Not so difficult

This Oven Roasted Orange Chicken with Fennel is bursting with citrus flavours. It's super easy to make and the presentation is gorgeous.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a medium sized bowl, combine olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, mustard, fennel seeds, thyme, garlic, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well.

2. Place the chicken, orange rounds, and fresh fennel in a large zip loc bag. Pour the marinade into the bag. Remove the air, and seal. Massage the contents of the bag to make sure everything is well coated. Place the bag in the fridge, and let marinade overnight.

3. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C (400°F). In the meantime, peel and slice the carrots into sticks.

4. Transfer all ingredients to a large oven proof roasting pan. Use your hands to toss everything, to make sure everything is well coated.

5. Roast for 45-50 minutes. Remove from the oven periodically to turn and coat the veggies and make sure nothing burns.

6. Serve with bulgur or rice. Enjoy!