Kotopoulo Youvetsi (baked Chicken with Orzo)

6 Servings
100% would make this recipe for Kotopoulo Youvetsi (baked Chicken with Orzo) again.

This is our annual Christmas dinner. It's not a quick recipe, but it's an easy one. My Greek husband (and I) love it. I found it in The Foods of the Greek Islands: Cooking and Culture at the Crossroads of the Mediterranean, by Aglaia Kremezi and Jim Botsacos

2 : 45

0 : 25

Be the first to submit a photo for this recipe. Win $100.00 by posting the best original food photo this month!

1 chef marked this Kotopoulo Youvetsi (baked Chicken with Orzo) recipe as Favorite
Recipe look good to you?

Kotopoulo Youvetsi (baked Chicken with Orzo) Ingredients

1/3 cup olive oil	2 cups canned diced tomatoes with their juice
4 1/2 pound chicken cut into 6 pieces, or 6 turkey drumsticks	salt to taste
1 large onion halved and thinly sliced	2 cups chicken stock plus more if needed
1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes chopped	1 pound orzo or elbow macaroni cooked in boiling salted water for 2 mins & drained
1 stick cinnamon	2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
1 teaspoon oregano crumbled	1/2 cup hard myzithra, kefalotyri, pecorino Romano, or Par coarsely grated (I use Parmesan or Romano)
1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or a pinch of crushed red pepper

Instructions for Kotopoulo Youvetsi (baked Chicken with Orzo)

Preheat oven to 400?.

In a large flameproof casserole or dutch oven that will hold the chicken or the drumsticks, heat the oil, and brown the chicken pieces or drumsticks on all sides (note: browning in batches speeds up the process). Remove them from the pan.

Add the onion and cook it for 3 minutes or until it is soft. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, cinnamon, oregano, pepper, and tomatoes. Sprinkle the chicken or turkey with salt and return it to the pan. Add 1/2 cup stock, or enough to come about two-thirds of the way up the chicken or turkey. Bring to a boil, cover the pan, and transfer it to the oven.

Cook the chicken or drumsticks for 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat is very tender. Transfer it to a platter, cover with foil, and keep warm.

Bring the remaining 1 1/2 cups stock to a boil. Pour the stock into the casserole with the cooking liquid. Stir in the orzo or macaroni and transfer to the oven. Bake the pasta, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed, adding stock if the pasta begins to dry out.

Place the chicken or drumsticks on the pasta and continue cooking for 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Sprinkle with parsley and cheese. Serve at once..

Main Ingredient: ChickenCuisine: Greek

Ingredient Insight - look inside this recipe

Christmas Bake Chicken Greek Main Dish

for flavor and categorization

Recipe Source: The Foods of the Greek Islands: Cooking and Culture at the Crossroads of the Mediterranean, by Aglaia Kremezi and Jim Botsacos

TisBarbara
on Apr 1 2008 7:38PM

[I made edits to this recipe.]

TisBarbara
on Dec 1 2007 8:03PM

Years ago, I found the perfect special occasion recipe in one of my many Greek cookbooks. It sounded delicious and proved to be even better than I expected. It smells absolutely wonderful while it’s cooking – scents of cinnamon and other ingredients mix to create a very Mediterranean aroma. The chicken is incredibly juicy and tender; it literally falls off the bone. The sun-dried tomatoes melt with the onions and diced tomatoes to add flavor to the broth that cooks the orzo. The orzo plumps up after absorbing all of the ingredients. It’s all cooked together in one pot, so the delicious flavor permeates everything. Note: This is NOT a Weight Watchers friendly meal. It’s definitely an indulgence. However, if you want to cut a few calories, don’t add the cheese at the end. We never add the cheese and don’t think it negatively impacts the recipe at all. Kali Orexi!!! [I posted this recipe.]

TisBarbara
on Dec 1 2007 8:00PM

Total Time: 2:45
Active time: 0:25