Day 2 - Barberries

I am small and sour and all over the Middle East

The barberry is a small, red, sour berry used in Middle Eastern cooking. Barberries are tart, fruity, and slightly citrusy.  They have been used for centuries in Persian cooking, often added to rice. You can used them to add flavour to your morning oatmeal, cook them in a chicken stew, or sprinkle them on a green salad. 

 Tangy Chicken with Orange and Barberries

Ingredients

3 lb. skin-on, bone-in chicken legs (thigh and drumstick) or a mix of thighs and drumsticks

 Kosher salt

2 Tbsp. mild olive  oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

 dried barberries or dried tart cherries, rinsed

½ tsp. ground turmeric

¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

⅓ cup raspberry red wine vinegar ( or regular red wine vinegar)

1 medium orange, halved

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Pat chicken dry with paper towels, then season all over with salt. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook chicken, skin side down, until golden brown underneath, 7–10 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate, leaving any fat in the pan.

Remove pan from heat and let fat cool down a little (about 3 minutes should do it). Return pan to medium heat and add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring often and adding a splash of water if needed to keep onion from getting too dark, until onion is softened and golden brown, 6–8 minutes. Stir in barberries, turmeric, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in vinegar and 1 cup water, season lightly with salt, and bring to a simmer.