The Art of Calabrian Chicken

I spent yesterday afternoon at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Newly opened last month after years of anticipation, it was a visit I approached with some hesitation. My disappointment with LACMA's David Geffen Galleries earlier this year had yet to settle. I felt as though I had wandered into a fabulous space where art and artifacts had been arranged without much intention, without stories to tell, rather like an art fair with booths. I carried that impression with me as I prepared to visit the Lucas Museum.

After the Prom by Norman Rockwell

I knew I would be mesmerized by its architecture. What surprised me was the storytelling within. I hadn't expected Norman Rockwell's gallery to captivate me quite as much as it did. There was something profoundly beautiful about the smallness of life he portrayed, the ordinary moments of family, childhood, and everyday rituals elevated into something worthy of our attention. Rockwell's America was often idealized, certainly, but perhaps that was part of his genius. He understood that the seemingly insignificant moments of human existence could tell stories as compelling as the grandest historical events. For a little while, I found myself longing for the simplicity of the world he so affectionately illustrated.

Moving through galleries devoted to work, family, motherhood, school, childhood, play, and sports, I found a certain comfort in the familiarity of it all. Then came science fiction. Suddenly, the monsters, the heroes, and the endless battles between good and evil felt less like imaginative escapes and more like an exhausting reflection of the world outside the museum. I found myself thinking about the monsters of our own time: gun violence involving children, the alleged gang rape at Cornell University, increasingly extreme weather across the globe, and the seemingly endless struggle for equality. I hurried toward the children's stories, hoping to escape the unsettling realization that we hardly need science fiction to imagine a world in peril.

Ceramic plate and bowls were wheel-thrown and glazed by me.

When life feels as though it needs rescuing, I have often turned to food, particularly cooking, to quiet the anxiety and restlessness. It is no coincidence that the first post of Exhaling Life's reset in November 2021 was a recipe. There is something reassuring about preparing a simple meal that is every bit as delicious as it is uncomplicated. With that in mind, I wanted to share a chicken recipe as simple as the everyday moments depicted in Rockwell's paintings, with a little Calabrian chili heat to give the ordinary just enough attitude to be memorable.

INGREDIENTS

[serves 1]

one chicken leg quarter

four pinches of sea salt

two tablespoons of Calabrian chili oil from a jar

two tablespoons of salted butter

two garlic cloves

a quarter teaspoon of smoked paprika

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place it in a baking dish and marinate with sea salt, Calabrian chili oil, and smoked paprika. Make sure the chicken is evenly coated with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least four hours.

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Heat a nonstick, oven-safe frying pan over high heat. Add the butter and garlic. Once the butter begins to melt, add the marinated chicken, skin side down. Place a sheet of foil over the chicken, then carefully position a heavy pot, such as a Dutch oven, on top. Make sure the pot is stable and cannot tip over. Its weight will press the chicken against the pan for even browning. Cook for three minutes, then carefully remove the pot and foil. Flip the chicken, replace the foil and pot, and cook for another three minutes.

Remove the heavy pot and foil. Flip the chicken once more so the skin faces the pan, and remove the garlic. Cover the pan with foil and transfer it to the oven. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes, checking the thickest part of the chicken with a meat thermometer, without touching the bone, until it reaches 170°F.

Remove the pan from the oven, flip the chicken, and cover it again with foil. Return it to the oven, turn off the heat, and allow the residual warmth to bring the internal temperature to 175°F. Once the chicken reaches 175°F, remove it from the oven and transfer it to a serving plate, skin side up. Serve immediately.

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More recipes:

Shiso Pork Belly Rice

No Rice, No Deal Stir-Fry Bowl

Honey Sriracha Shrimp

Lemon Shrimp Linguine

Piri Piri Shrimp Orzo

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