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Hojicha Green Tea Honey Miso Butter Chicken Thighs

Makes 2-4 servings 5 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 teaspoons hojicha green tea 21/2 tablespoons white miso paste 1 tablespoon honey

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Makes 2-4 servings

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5 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 teaspoons hojicha green tea

21/2 tablespoons white miso paste

1 tablespoon honey

4 chicken thighs, bone in, skin on

5 cloves garlic (unpeeled)

1 lemon

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1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add hojicha green tea to a spice grinder or food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add the softened butter to a small bowl and mash and whip with a fork until it's light and smooth. Stir in the coarsely ground tea leaves and mix until evenly distributed. Stir in the miso and honey and mix until combined.

2. Using a paper towel, pat the chicken thighs until dry. Gently run your fingers underneath the skin to separate from the chicken to create a pocket. Using your fingers, rub in 1 tablespoon of the tea miso honey butter and gently spread to coat the chicken. Repeat with each thigh. Spread the remainder of the tea miso honey butter on top of the skin, creating a thin even coating.

3. Cover a baking sheet in foil and place chicken thighs on the foil. Tuck the garlic cloves next to each thigh. Bake for 35 minutes, until deeply browned and slightly charred. Remove from the oven and place chicken thighs on a serving platter. Remove garlic from the baking sheet, mash it into a paste, and squeeze it into a small bowl. Pour the buttery pan drippings into a bowl and mix to combine. Add a splash of lemon juice to taste and spoon on the bottom of the platter with chicken (note: pouring on top will wet the chicken and make it less crisp). Serve immediately.

Note: Hojicha is a roasted Japanese green tea with flavors reminiscent of toasted barley, sesame, amber, and caramel. The nutty earthy notes of this tea enhance the roasted nature of this dish while balancing creamy butter, savory miso paste, and sweet honey.

- From Alexis Siemons

Per serving (based on 4): 332 calories, 18 grams protein, 10 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams sugar, 25 grams fat, 95 milligrams cholesterol, 552 milligrams sodium, 1 gram dietary fiber.

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