Chives are among the the easiest plants to grow, both in a garden, as well as in a pot at home. It is drought resistant and rarely succumbs to diseases and pests.
All it needs to grow is a sunny area and nutrient-rich soils. It's valued for its specific taste that is not as strong as onions', however it is similar to that of garlic to some degree.
The usable parts of chives in the culinary arts are the stalks, especially the leaves of the plant. Incredibly aromatic, they possess a fine and gentle onion taste. On rarer occasions, the violet-pink flowers are used, mostly as decoration for food.
The gentle structure of chives does not allow for heat treatment. That's why it's put in dishes immediately prior to serving.
Typically, chives' stalks are used in salads and as decoration for different dishes. It's an absolutely crucial component for any spring salad.
Besides fresh, chives are used as a dried herb as well. Even in this form, its taste qualities are preserved. It's used to season not only fresh salads but all kinds of dishes with boiled meat, mushrooms, eggs, potatoes, rice, chicken and others. Dried and crumbled, chives are usually an ingredient of savory.
Besides seasoning salads and dishes, chives bring numerous benefits to the body. It's been proven to lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure. Plus it fights bacteria in the body.
Lemon Chicken with Chives
Ingredients: 2 fresh lemons, 1 cup dry white wine, 2 heads shallots, finely chopped, 1/4 cup olive oil, 5 tablespoons finely chopped herbs and spices: salvia, thyme, parsley, chives, 2 cloves pressed garlic, 3.5 lb chicken, salt, freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Preparation: Grate the lemon rinds in a bowl large enough to hold the chicken servings. Remove the seeds and squeeze in the lemon juice. Add the wine, 1/4 cup olive oil, spices and garlic.
Place the pieces of chicken in the bowl, covering them with marinade all over. Cover with a lid and leave in the refrigerator for several hours.
Heat the oven to 360°F (180ºС). Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan. Drain the chicken pieces and saute them on moderate heat until golden on all sides.
Put the meat in a large oven dish. Pour the marinade into the pan and let it come to a boil. Once this happens, pour it over the chicken. Bake 25 to 30 min. Season with salt and pepper.
