Though most people remember the England of old for their trade exploits, they have also made vast contributions to the culinary industry. Due to the abundance of herbs and fruit in England with their own distinct flavors, British chefs had the opportunity to mix and match several flavors, and they came up with several delicacies. Prominent among these fusion dishes is apricot chicken.
History of apricot chicken drumsticks and green side salad
As mentioned before, apricot chicken has its roots in 17th century England. People living in and around apricot orchards in England tried baking their chicken with apricot jam and found that the savory chicken and sweet jam combined to make a delectable dish. Several years of continuous experimentation with this combination led to the emergence of several new methods to incorporate the apricot flavor into chicken dishes, such as chicken breasts and apricot jam, and later, apricot chicken drumsticks.
As Britain sent several of its citizens to colonize different parts of the world, they took their culinary skills along with them. But this eclectic flavor caught on in only a few colonies, especially Australia. Apricot chicken drumsticks are still a favorite among present day Australians with the apricot component being used in several forms, such as jam and nectar.
The green salad as such has such a widespread history that it is difficult to pinpoint an actual place of origin. It has been a staple in meals ever since man the inception of cooking, and is an ever-present in menus all over the globe.
Health benefits of the dish
Apricots are a pleasure you can indulge in without any fear for your health.
They contain both vitamin A and C in abundance, and are thus extremely good for your eyesight.
They also contain several plant antioxidants, which cleanse the system and are an effective combatant against aging.
Chicken, being a white meat, is a universal bodybuilding food with its high protein content. People with concerns about their blood glucose levels can consume chicken with relative peace of mind as it has very low carbohydrate content compared to other food items.
Green salad has numerous health benefits. Several vegetables which are a staple in green salad such as cucumber and tomatoes have high water content, and thus replenish the body’s water reserves. This aids in detoxifying the body to a large extent.
Ingredients and preparations
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Grilling time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Level of cooking: Medium
Ingredients
12 chicken drumsticks ( 1.36 kilogram)
Salt: 1 teaspoon
Pepper: ¼ teaspoon
Canola oil: ¼ cup
Apricot jam: ¼ cup
Prepared mustard: ¼ cup
Brown sugar: 1 tablespoon
Directions
Sprinkle salt and pepper over the chicken. The sauce can be prepared by combining the rest of the ingredients in a bowl.
Using cooking oil, moisten a paper towel. Use the towel to coat the grill rack by rubbing it on the rack using long handled tongs.
Cover the chicken and grill it over medium heat for 15 -20 minutes.
Turn it occasionally and baste with sauce during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
It can either be served hot immediately, or chilled in a refrigerator and served cold.
Nutritional information
2 chicken drumsticks equal 361 calories, 22 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 94 mg cholesterol, 599 mg sodium, 11 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 29 g protein.
Green Salad Ingredients:
Raw cucumbers, tomatoes, green chilies, onions and carrots
Salt and pepper to season
Directions
Slice the vegetables as per requirement.
Sprinkle salt and pepper over the cut vegetables.
Garnish with cilantro
Serve
Happy cooking!!
