Discovering the Delight of Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken: A Secret Recipe Club Adventure

It’s that exciting time of the month again – Secret Recipe Club Reveal Day! For those unfamiliar with this wonderful culinary community, the Secret Recipe Club (SRC) is a unique online event that connects food bloggers from around the globe. Each participant is secretly assigned another blogger’s site, tasked with choosing, cooking, and reviewing one of their recipes. It’s an incredible opportunity to explore new blogs, discover inspiring dishes, and expand your cooking repertoire. A huge thank you to Amanda, who dedicates so much effort to coordinating this delightful event every single month; her work truly brings this vibrant community together and fosters a spirit of culinary discovery.

This month, my culinary quest led me to the captivating blog, I Was Born To Cook, penned by Melissa. What an absolute gem of a find! I hadn’t encountered her site before, but I am now incredibly grateful for this Secret Recipe Club assignment that introduced me to her kitchen. Melissa, born and raised in the heart of New Jersey, comes from a rich Greek and Italian heritage, which profoundly influences her cooking. Her blog’s tagline perfectly encapsulates her culinary philosophy and background: “A journal of recipes, stories and more from the kitchen of a 1st generation Italian/Greek girl from New Jersey.” This description immediately drew me in, and I knew almost instantly that I wanted to delve into her Greek recipes. The challenge, however, lay in choosing just one. Melissa’s blog is brimming with an enticing array of Greek, Italian, and dessert recipes, each more tempting than the last. Despite the difficulty in narrowing down my selection, I remained steadfast in my initial decision to explore her Greek offerings. And I can confidently say, that was an excellent choice. I’ve already bookmarked several other recipes and guarantee I’ll be trying more of her delicious creations very soon.

After much delightful deliberation, I finally settled on her enticing Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken. This dish immediately piqued my interest because of its distinctive twist: the prominent, yet harmonious, inclusion of cinnamon in a savory application. Cinnamon, often reserved for sweet pastries and desserts in many Western cuisines, holds a fascinating and integral place in numerous savory Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. It imparts a unique warmth, a subtle sweetness, and an unparalleled depth of flavor that truly elevates the overall profile of a stew or meat dish. I must confess, I absolutely adored this chicken. The rich, aromatic fragrance that filled my kitchen as it simmered was incredibly inviting and promised something truly special.

The original recipe calls for skin-on, bone-in chicken, a cut often favored for stewing due to its ability to impart richer flavor and maintain moisture. However, on the day I prepared this dish, I only had boneless, skinless chicken breasts available. To my pleasant surprise, this substitution worked exceptionally well. The chicken breasts, while lacking the skin for traditional crisping, still managed to develop a lovely caramelized exterior after a quick sear, and remained wonderfully moist and juicy on the inside as they absorbed the flavorful sauce. But without a doubt, the true star of this Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken was the sauce itself. Rich, deeply aromatic, and perfectly balanced with the unique notes of cinnamon, it was nothing short of amazing. I found myself generously spooning it over my side of couscous, eager to savor every last drop. Even my husband, who can sometimes be reserved about adventurous flavor combinations, ate a large piece, which speaks volumes about its inherent deliciousness and broad appeal!

Melissa’s adaptation of this Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken is inspired by a recipe from the renowned chef Cat Cora, a testament to its authentic roots and delicious flavor profile. Given my limited experience with traditional Greek cuisine, I chose to largely adhere to the original recipe instructions, making only one notable change: the type of chicken I used. While the recipe was designed for a larger family, I adjusted the quantity of chicken to suit just two servings, as it was only my husband and I enjoying the meal. However, I made the crucial decision to prepare the full amount of the sauce, and this proved to be a brilliant move. While we did have some leftover sauce, its incredible flavor made it a welcome addition to meals the following day, illustrating that you can truly never have too much of a good thing when it comes to a sauce this delicious. It only got better overnight, allowing the flavors to meld even further.

The incorporation of cinnamon into savory dishes, exemplified by this Greek Stewed Chicken, is a fascinating and ancient culinary tradition in many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures. It’s a spice that, when skillfully employed, transforms what could be a simple chicken stew into a complex, comforting, and deeply satisfying meal. The inherent warmth of cinnamon, often combined with other traditional Greek seasonings such as garlic, oregano, a touch of bay leaf, and sometimes even a hint of nutmeg, orchestrates a symphony of flavors that is both exotic and profoundly familiar. For those new to experimenting with cinnamon in savory applications, this Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken serves as an excellent and approachable entry point. The rich tomato-based sauce provides a perfect, robust canvas for the spice to shine through without ever becoming overpowering, creating a harmonious blend that will tantalize your taste buds.

When preparing a stewed chicken dish, whether you opt for bone-in, skin-on cuts or boneless, skinless portions, a few key techniques can significantly enhance the final outcome. If you choose bone-in, skin-on chicken, remember to properly brown the skin thoroughly in the initial stages. This critical step not only renders out excess fat, resulting in a desirable crispy skin, but also builds a foundational layer of rich, deep flavor for your entire stew. The browned bits at the bottom of the pan, known as “fond,” are culinary gold, ready to be scraped up by your liquids. If, like me, you opt for boneless, skinless cuts, it’s essential to be mindful of cooking times to prevent overcooking and ensure the chicken remains succulent and juicy. A quick, high-heat sear to create a beautiful golden caramelization, followed by a gentle simmer within the flavorful sauce, will yield outstanding results. The inherent beauty of a stewed dish like this lies in its remarkable ability to deepen and develop its flavors over time. This characteristic makes it an ideal candidate for meal prepping; the sauce, in particular, melds its components even more exquisitely after a day or two in the refrigerator, allowing you to enjoy a richer, more complex taste with minimal effort on busy weeknights.

This incredibly versatile Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken pairs wonderfully with a diverse array of complementary sides, allowing for varied meal experiences. Traditional Greek accompaniments often include a bed of fluffy rice or a generous serving of pasta, both of which excel at soaking up every drop of the exquisite, cinnamon-infused sauce. For a lighter, fresher take on the meal, consider serving it alongside a vibrant green salad, perhaps dressed with a simple lemon-herb vinaigrette, to cut through the richness of the stew. Alternatively, a hearty portion of couscous, as I enjoyed it, offers a delightful texture and acts as another perfect vehicle for the sauce. And, of course, no stewed dish would be complete without some crusty bread – it’s an absolute must-have for thoroughly mopping up every last, delicious drop of that incredible sauce, ensuring not a single bit of flavor goes to waste. My journey through the Secret Recipe Club this month was truly delightful and incredibly rewarding, leading me not only to Melissa’s wonderful blog but also to this unforgettable Greek Cinnamon Stewed Chicken. It serves as a fantastic testament to the power of culinary exploration and the sheer joy of discovering new flavors, diverse traditions, and inspiring recipes. I wholeheartedly recommend giving this savory cinnamon chicken a try; it might just become a cherished new favorite in your kitchen! And while you’re at it, do take a moment to visit Melissa at I Was Born To Cook – you’ll undoubtedly find a treasure trove of inspiring and delicious recipes waiting for you to explore.

‘);