With July’s heat wave approaching, it’s a good time to think about cooking to cool you and your family down! Many herbs and spices have a cooling effect on the body, and it so happens that they make scrumptious marinades and sauces for baked chicken recipes for dinner!
Mint Sauce – Pan-Roasted Chicken
Mint binds to the same receptors in your mouth as cold substances, such as cool air or water. Although it doesn’t actually lower your body heat, it gives the same effects! This pan-roasted chicken with mint sauce recipe was created in the early 2000s by the famous NY chef, Bobby Flay.
Blend fresh mint, garlic, Serrano chile, honey, Dijon mustard, olive oil and parsley into a paste. Add water for your ideal consistency.
Season bone-in chicken breasts with kosher salt, paprika, ground mustard, cumin, black pepper, and ground fennel. Sautee the chicken breasts until golden brown, then bake at 425 degrees. Lather the chicken breasts with the mint sauce and enjoy!
Lavender – Roast Chicken With Honey
Lavender has been scientifically proven to lower body temperature. Actually, it’s used as a way to lower fevers. This baked chicken recipe uses a sweet, savory lavender glaze!
Whisk together a lavender glaze of culinary-grade lavender buds, honey, a zest of lemon, and black pepper.
Bake a whole chicken at 450 degrees with sliced potatoes and onions on the side with olive oil, pepper, and salt. After about 45 minutes, add the lavender glaze and bake for 10 more minutes.
Chamomile – Baked Chicken With Spring Vegetables
Chamomile is a miracle herb that not only cools your body, but lowers inflammation, calms you down, can help with menstrual cramping, and more! In this baked chicken recipe, you make a chamomile butter to glaze your whole chicken and spring vegetables with.
Grind one stick of softened butter, fresh thyme, lemon zest, kosher salt, pepper, and dried chamomile flowers.
Salt a whole chicken overnight then stuff onions and lemons into it and place in a pan with olive oil, garlic, and thyme. Before baking at 400 degrees for about two hours, rub some of the chamomile butter between the chicken breast skin and the chicken breast. Rub the rest of the butter over the whole chicken.
Boil asparagus and carrots then throw into a bowl of ice water. Sautee these with frozen peas in olive oil and the remaining chamomile butter.
Use the roasting pan’s drippings to make a gravy with added flour.
Enjoy your spring vegetables with your baked chicken – all covered in cooling chamomile butter!
Full recipe and ingredients are here.
AC is not the only way to cool yourself off this summer. These baked chicken recipes for dinner use herbs and spices that can make you feel cooler and also make you healthier!