A Delcious Quick and Easy Summer Supper- Crispy Chicken Thighs with a Blueberry Salad

 Crispy sauteed chicken thighs with a delicious blueberry salad-

The perfect meal for a hot  summer day.

I'm so glad that chicken thighs have finally come into vogue. The best restaurants in New Orleans now feature the lowly chicken thigh on their prestigious menus. In my opinion, the dark meat has so much more flavor. This quick and easy recipe is so refreshing and ready in less than thirty minutes.

 This is an adaptation of a Michael Symon's recipe from his fabulous cookbook, 5 in 5.  To reduce cooking time, you can remove the bone and pound the thigh to make it thinner. It will reduce the cooking time, but you will sacrifice flavor in the process. 

Ingredients

4 bone-in, skin-in chicken thighs 
2 T olive oil
1- 6 ounce pkg fresh blueberries
4 cups arugula
1 cup thinly sliced red onions
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
Balsamic Vinaigrette (I use Emeril's recipe or you can use a purchased one.)
2 T crumbled blue cheese (optional)
Kosher Salt
Freshly-ground pepper

Dry the chicken thighs with paper towels, in order to crisp the skin.
Sprinkle generously with kosher salt and fresh-ground pepper.

Add olive oil to a heavy skillet until medium-hot. (I prefer cast ion.)
Place the chicken, skin side down in the skillet and sear until the
skin is crispy, about 4 minutes.

Flip the chicken and sear on the other side for about 3 minutes.
Slip the skillet into a 375 degree oven for about 6-7 minutes.

 While the chicken finishes in the oven, slice the onion and
add arugula and torn basil to a bowl.

 Remove the chicken thighs from the oven and check the temperature. in the
thickest part (being careful the thermometer doesn't touch the bone).
It should be 165-170 degrees.

Notice that crispy skin with only 2 T of oil for the whole meal.

Toss the salad lightly with the vinaigrette. Salt and pepper 

to taste and sprinkle blue cheese on top.

Enjoy!