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    Home » Recipes » Chicken Recipes

    Chicken with Dates and Saffron for Rosh Hashanah

    Published: Aug 23, 2021 · Modified: Jan 1, 2023 by Samantha Ferraro · This post may contain affiliate links · 33 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    There are a few symbolic foods that we eat for Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), to bring in a sweet New Year. Usually, it’s apples and honey but also sweet dates. This recipe for braised chicken with dates, wine and saffron is a gorgeous main course to celebrate the occasion.

    Seared chicken is simmered in the most succulent reduction of red wine, date molasses, saffron and dates, bridging a slightly sweet and savory main course.

    Braised chicken with dates, red wine and saffron is a gorgeous main course with layers of bold, slightly sweet and savory flavors.

    Chicken with Dates

    For the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people celebrate by eating foods that are sweet to bring in a sweet new Year. Often, you’ll see recipes apple recipes such as this cardamom apple cake or sweet round challahs, recipes with honey and pomegranate and elaborate main courses that bring all of those flavors together.

    For this main course, browned chicken thighs simmer in a sauce made of red wine, chicken stock, date syrup and spices. The combination of date syrup with the savory flavors of onions, garlic and spices is layered and flavorful with a bit of savory sweetness.

    Braised chicken with dates, red wine and saffron is a gorgeous main course with layers of bold, slightly sweet and savory flavors.

    Method:

    1) Pat chicken dry and season well with salt and pepper and dredge in cornstarch. In a large dutch oven or pot, drizzle with oil and bring heat to medium-high and brown chicken on each side. Reserve chicken to plate once done.

    Chicken with Dates for Rosh Hashanah via LittleFerraroKitchen.com

    2) Add carrots and onions and saute in same oil until onions caramelize, cover. Add garlic, turmeric, cumin, red pepper and saffron and cook for another 2 minutes.

    Chicken with Dates for Rosh Hashanah via LittleFerraroKitchen.com

    3) Pour in red wine and use a spatula to scrape any bits on the bottom of the pot. Bring to a simmer and reduce slightly. Add chicken stock and 2 tablespoons of date syrup and bring to a boil and reduce to a constant simmer. Add chicken back into the sauce, cover and cook until chicken is cooked through and tender, about 25-30 minutes.

    Chicken with Dates for Rosh Hashanah via LittleFerraroKitchen.com

    4) Add dates and continue cooking for a few more minutes to dates soften. The sauce should have reduced down but still be pourable. If the sauce is too thin, remove chicken and continue reducing sauce. Once done, garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve chicken with sauce, dates and vegetables.

    Side Dishes to Serve Alongside

    • Persian Rice with Dates and Pistachios
    • Persian Jeweled Rice
    • Pomegranate Roasted Vegetables with Tahini
    • Roasted Pears and Carrots with Pomegranate

    Here is another wonderful chicken recipe:

    Chicken and pear

    Chicken with Dates, Red Wine and Saffron

    Samantha Ferraro
    3.92 from 23 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine Jewish, Mediterranean
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 655 kcal

    Equipment

    Dutch Oven

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil such as grapeseed oil
    • 2 pound bone in, skin on chicken thighs
    • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
    • Black pepper
    • 1/4 cup cornstarch
    • 1 yellow or white onion sliced thin
    • 3 carrots peeled and chopped into 1 inch pieces
    • 2 cloves garlic chopped
    • 1 teaspoon turmeric
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
    • Pinch of saffron
    • 1 cup red wine
    • 2 cups chicken stock low sodium, preferred
    • 2 tablespoons date molasses
    • 1/2 cup dried dates cut in half
    • Fresh parsley for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Pat chicken dry and season well with salt and pepper and dredge in cornstarch.
    • In a large dutch oven or pot, drizzle with oil and bring up to medium-high heat and brown chicken on each side, about 4-5 minutes per side. Reserve chicken to plate. It will be undercooked in the center, and that's ok.
    • In the same pot, add carrots and onions and saute until onions begin to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, turmeric, cumin, red pepper and saffron and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring everything together.
    • Pour in red wine and use a spatula to scrape any bits on the bottom of the pot. Bring to a simmer and reduce slightly. Add chicken stock and 2 tablespoons of date syrup and bring to a boil and reduce to a constant simmer. Add chicken back into the sauce, cover and cook until chicken is cooked through and tender, about 25-30 minutes.
    • Add dates and continue cooking for a few more minutes to dates soften. The sauce should have reduced down but still be pourable. If the sauce is too thin, remove chicken and continue reducing sauce.
    • Once done, garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve chicken with sauce, dates and vegetables.

    Notes

    If you don’t have date molasses, pomegranate molasses is a good substitute or you can omit it altogether. 
    The original photos show the recipe with thighs and drumsticks, use whatever cut you can find, though bone in will keep the meat tender. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 655kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 36gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 193mgSodium: 652mgPotassium: 937mgFiber: 4gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 7881IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword chicken and dates recipe, chicken with dates
    Tried this recipe?Let us know on Instagram!

    This recipe was originally published in September, 2012 and updated in August, 2021 with final photos and retested recipe.

    More Chicken Recipes

    • Hawaiian Style Shoyu Chicken
    • Hawaiian Style Chicken Katsu with Furikake
    • Honey Dijon Roast Chicken and Pears
    • Chicken Shawarma Skewers

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. diabeticFoodie says

      September 4, 2012 at 5:33 am

      My husband is a date fiend. He would LOVE this!

      Reply
    2. Jessie says

      September 4, 2012 at 6:36 am

      This looks soooo good! Thanks for participating!!

      Reply
    3. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says

      September 4, 2012 at 7:04 am

      This might be just the use for the dried dates I have in my pantry!! Yum!!! PS: Can you update the links? Mine is wrong..thanks sista!!

      Reply
    4. Melanie says

      September 4, 2012 at 7:20 am

      Awwwww…. Great story! And great recipe! Us Foodies use Elul as a time to study, reflect, and find Rosh Hashanah recipes! So happy you shared and created this beauty!

      Reply
    5. Miriam Mena says

      September 4, 2012 at 8:34 am

      This sounds so deliciously simple, it’s a definite contender for Rosh Hashana lunch! Thank you for the suggestion, I’m loving this blog party.

      Reply
    6. Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says

      September 4, 2012 at 9:02 am

      What an awesome story! Congrats to both of you…I love one pot meals and this chicken looks mighty tasty!

      Reply
    7. Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat says

      September 4, 2012 at 9:14 am

      Great idea! I love dates.

      Reply
    8. Hindy says

      September 4, 2012 at 9:41 am

      This looks fantastic! I love the use of dates in this recipe!

      Reply
    9. Susan says

      September 4, 2012 at 11:25 am

      Such a sweet story and a great sweet recipe to start the new year!

      Reply
    10. Chanie@BusyInBrooklyn says

      September 4, 2012 at 7:09 pm

      That looks so delicious!

      Reply
    11. Leah says

      September 6, 2012 at 7:34 am

      What a great recipe. Love the step by step photos.

      Reply
    12. gail says

      September 6, 2012 at 10:41 am

      thanks for this post!

      Reply
      • Samantha says

        September 6, 2012 at 12:25 pm

        Mahalo Gail! 🙂

        Reply
    13. Eileen Gross | Wine Everyday says

      September 6, 2012 at 4:50 pm

      Thanks for sharing your engagement story, what a beautiful setting to mark the start of your lives together!

      This dish looks fabulous! We are a mixed family, a little of everything, and we try to celebrate all sides of our family with food. It is the one thing that unites EVERYONE!!

      Cheers!
      Eileen

      Reply
    14. Loren says

      September 7, 2012 at 5:09 pm

      I am definitely going to try this recipe. I am always looking for new chicken recipes! Thanks.

      Reply
    15. Siobhan says

      October 6, 2021 at 3:25 am

      5 stars
      What a decadent dish! We thoroughly enjoyed eating this on an uneventful Wednesday night. The sauce is a delight once it reduces down! We had it with your Persian rice with dates, pistachios and cardamom.

      Reply
      • Samantha says

        October 6, 2021 at 10:57 am

        What a combo!! Thank you so so much! I ate that chicken dish 3x in one week haha

        Reply

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