This recipe uses honey and pomegranate—two of the symbolic Rosh Hashanah foods (honey for a sweet year ahead and pomegranate for prosperity)—to create sticky, sweet and slightly tangy chicken that pairs perfectly with my Jewelled Couscous (pictured), or Simanim Rice.

Other Rosh Hashanah chicken dishes you might enjoy:

Or if you’re looking for Rosh Hashanah brisket ideas:

Read on for the instructions for this pomegranate-honey chicken.

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp ground allspice
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • ⅓ cup pomegranate molasses
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • 4 scallions

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Prepare the spice mix by combining all the dry spices in a small bowl.
  3. Make the glaze by mixing pomegranate molasses and honey in a bowl.
  4. Arrange the chicken skin side down in a glass or ceramic baking dish and sprinkle the spice mix liberally on the underside of each piece.
  5. Flip the pieces over and carefully lift the skin of each thigh. Season the chicken under the skin with more of the spice mix and brush with some of the glaze.
  6. Pull the skin back over, and sprinkle spice mix on top as well. Brush the pomegranate-honey mixture generously under the skin and over the skin of each thigh. Drizzle any extra over and around the chicken. Nestle the scallions between the pieces of chicken.
  7. Bake covered at 400 for about 30-40 minutes (timing will vary depending on the size of your chicken and the type of pan you’re baking it in). You want the chicken to be 165°F inside and pulling away from the bone.
  8. Remove foil and brush chicken with additional pomegranate-honey glaze. Increase oven temperature to 425°F (220°C).
  9. Bake uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning, until the glaze is caramelized and the skin is crispy.
  10. Serve with Jewelled Couscous (pictured), or Simanim Rice, or the side of your choice.

Yield: 8 pieces of chicken