Oven Fried Garlic Chicken, as seen on George Hirsch Lifestyle

George Hirsch June 10, 2025

Many of you have requested this recipe from George Hirsch Lifestyle TV series. I am delighted to share.

Who doesn’t like fried chicken? However, frying chicken in the traditional manner can cause health concerns and take a long time to prepare correctly. The solution is my oven-fried garlic Chicken. It is as good as it looks. Perfect for making and taking to the tailgate or picnic, it tastes even better the next day! That's if you have any left.

Add a side of Mac and Cheese and wrap up with Double Chocolate Brownies for a perfect homestyle comfort menu.

George’s Oven Fried Garlic Chicken

Makes 8-10 pieces

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1 whole chicken cut into 8 - 10 pieces or pre-cut from a butcher

Juice of 1/2 fresh lemon

2 cups flour, approximate

paper bag or food-safe plastic bag

For The Chicken Rub

1 teaspoon each: dried basil, oregano, thyme, sweet paprika

1/2 Tablespoon garlic powder

Pinch of fresh ground nutmeg

Pinch sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

Combine all seasonings for chicken.

Add seasoning rub to chicken, coating each piece, then squeeze lemon juice over the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Place half of the flour in a bag and add additional flour as needed.

Place two pieces of chicken in the bag of flour at a time, close tightly, and shake the bag, coating the chicken evenly. Remove flour-coated chicken with tongs and shake off any excess flour. Place flour-coated chicken in a low-sided heavy gauge roasting pan. Repeat until all chicken has been coated with flour. Make sure the chicken is not crowded in a roasting pan. See Tips.

Place chicken in the oven at 425 degrees F. for the first 15 min or until chicken begins to color (you will smell aroma), then lower oven to 350 degrees F. for 30 - 35 minutes until golden brown or until done. Time depends on the size of the chicken pieces.

After removing from the oven, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes and serve.

Tips:

- For crispy chicken, use a heavy gauge low-sided pan (to prevent the chicken from steaming).

- Do not overcrowd the chicken in the pan; allow air circulation.

- The oven-baked chicken fries in their own fat. Using just breasts (white meat) does not oven fry as well due to lower fat content; for best results, cook with a mixture of white and dark meat that has a higher fat content.

- Trust the cooking times. Avoid opening the oven door to peek at the chicken while cooking. It will still be there. The temperature drops each time you open the oven door, causing the chicken to steam.

- To keep chicken crisp after cooking, place chicken on a wire baking screen until cool.

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Corned Beef and Cabbage

George Hirsch March 8, 2025

Since March is officially 'Irish Awareness Month,'’ I want to offer you the luck of the Irish by kicking off a St. Patrick's Day food tradition with Corn Beef and Cabbage...umm, Irish-American, that is, and not part of the repast on the Emerald Aisle.

Since the early 1900s, Americans proclaimed corned beef and cabbage their favorite Irish dish, even though it never had graced dinner tables in Ireland. Since then, Americans have embraced it as the St. Patrick's Day meal, March 17th. Corned beef got its name before refrigeration when meat was preserved using coarse grains of salt, called 'corn.’ Today, beef is corned with spices strictly for flavor, not preservation, so the meat must be refrigerated. Whether you're a wee bit Irish or not, boost your luck by celebrating St. Patrick's Day with friends and a feast.

It is said that President Grover Cleveland once noticed the aroma of corned beef and cabbage coming from the servant’s quarters at the White House. He asked to trade his dinner for the staff meal and commented, " This was the best dinner I had had in months."

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit, Gaelic for Saint Patrick's Day

Corned Beef and Cabbage with Boiled Vegetables

Serves six-eight

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3-pound corned beef brisket

4 cloves garlic, peeled

Fresh ground black pepper

2 Tablespoons pickling spices,

3 bay leaves

1/4cup sugar

1/4cup cider vinegar

1 large onion, peeled and quartered

6 carrots, peeled

6 Yukon potatoes, scrubbed

3 turnips, peeled

1 head cabbaged, leave core on and cut into eights

Place corned beef brisket in a very large soup pot. Fill the pot with cold water to cover the meat. Add sugar, cider vinegar, pickling spices, bay leaves, and garlic.

Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 5 to 6 minutes, skimming off the any scum that rises to the surface with a large spoon.

Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 1-2 hours. Test the meat for tenderness with a large fork; it should have a little resistance. Be careful not to overcook corned beef, or the meat will become dry and stringy. If fully tender, turn off the heat and let the meat rest in the liquid.

Add all the vegetables to the pot with the meat one hour before serving and before the meat finishes.

Timetable for the vegetables:

• onions, simmer 1 hour

• carrots, potatoes, and turnips simmer for 30 minutes

• Simmer cabbage for 20-30 minutes

Slice only as much meat as you will immediately serve, keeping the rest in one piece for future use. Serve with a variety of mustards and horseradish.

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13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one

$19.95

Gather 'Round the Grill Cookbook, Vintage (new)

$50.00

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book

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The Feast of Seven Fishes

George Hirsch December 19, 2024

The Feast of Seven Fishes

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a popular Southern Italian tradition celebrated worldwide. In Italy, it is called “la Cena Della vigilia,” or Christmas Eve Dinner, December 24th, observed by abstaining from eating meat on Christmas Eve and enjoying the holiday meal with family, filled with a seafood spread.

WHY SEVEN? Some say the number seven represents the seven sacraments, seven days of creation, or simply the fact that seven signifies perfection in the Bible. This may be speculation; however, what is known is that this celebration is much appreciated and shared by most Italians and fish lovers.

Fish: You will find virtually any Mediterranean fish prepared from this region—everything from anchovies to eel. Popular fishes in the feast include calamari, smelts, clams, and shrimp.

One of my favorites is baccalá, a dried, salted cod.

Baccala How To: To reconstitute the baccalá, you soak it for two days, changing the water three or four times.

I prepare the baccalá in several ways, including sauteed and with tomatoes. Still, it's also quite popular to prepare it in the oven with potatoes or even in a salad with potatoes and black olives.

The Seven Fishes is a feast that brings family and friends together to celebrate a significant evening. The seafood is only the centerpiece of what really takes place..keeping a tradition alive with family and friends. Isn’t that what holidays are really about? Buone Feste!

Seafood Chowder

Fritto Misto

Linguini Calamari Sauce

Baccala and Potato Recipe

Capitone Arrosto & Fritto

Clam Pie Recipe

Mussels in White Wine Sauce

Stuffed Calamari Recipe

Shrimp Risotto Recipe

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13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one

$19.95

Gather 'Round the Grill Cookbook, Vintage (new)

$50.00

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book

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Speedy Side

George Hirsch August 23, 2024

Don't feel like peeling the spuds or steaming rice on a warm day? Try my cool couscous salad, which is ready to serve in a matter of minutes. It's a great make-ahead cold side salad that travels well from your kitchen to your tailgate.

Couscous is a staple side dish of North Africa, Sicily, and the Middle East. It is made from semolina or granules of durum wheat. A healthy side dish contains a 1 % low fat-to-calorie ratio of 3.6 grams of protein for every 100 grams. My flavorful Couscous and Tomato Salad tastes so good. Who will remember the dish is healthy?

Couscous is a quick, healthy dish that becomes fluffy when cooked and has a slightly chewy—firm texture. Traditionally, it was hand-rolled, but today, it's made by machine: The coarsely ground durum wheat (semolina) is moistened and tossed with fine wheat flour until it forms tiny, round balls.

There are three main types: Moroccan, Israeli, and Lebanese. Most couscous available in North America is "instant" or quick-cooking.

In Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, it’s steamed over a simmered stew after being tossed with a little water or oil.

Serve warm or chilled with grilled, or go all veggies and top with Acorn Squash.

Couscous and Tomato Salad (see recipe below)

Makes four cups

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1 1/2 cups Couscous

2 cups chicken broth

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1/4 sweet onion, chopped

1/4 sweet red bell pepper, chopped

2 Tablespoons pine nuts and raisins

2 Tablespoons fresh mint, chopped

For Tomato Dressing: 2 Tablespoons lemon juice; 1 Tablespoon honey; 1/2 cup vine ripened tomatoes, chopped; 1/4 cup chick peas; cooked or canned rinsed & drained; 1/4 cup olive oil; 2 teaspoons curry powder; pinch of cinnamon

Preheat a sauté pan; add one tablespoon of olive oil, onions, and peppers. Sauté three to five minutes until tender. Add pine nuts and raisins and cook for one additional minute. Add couscous; mix with the onion and pepper mixture. Add boiling hot chicken broth and 1 Tablespoon mint, cover, and remove from the stove. Allow to rest for five minutes.

Meanwhile, make Tomato Dressing by mixing tomatoes, chickpeas, lemon juice, honey, olive oil, curry, cinnamon, and the remaining mint.

After the couscous has sat covered for five minutes, remove the lid and mix with a fork or spoon to loosen the granules. Top with the tomato dressing and mix well.

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13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one

$19.95

Gather 'Round the Grill Cookbook, Vintage (new)

$50.00

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book

$24.95

Cinco de Mayo Barbecue Burrito

George Hirsch May 4, 2023

This week Cinco de Mayo will be celebrated worldwide, honoring Mexican heritage and marking the defeat of the French Army after invading the Americas. But believe it or not, this commemorative holiday is celebrated by more people in California than in Mexico. And many festive ways are used to mark the occasion beyond cervesa and tequila. Dances and music keep the experience to preserve & educate the public about its historical significance and culture.

A quick fix burrito made even better with yesterday’s leftover grilled chicken. And what a great way to kick off grilling season! Although my grilled chicken burrito recipe is not traditional for Cinco de Mayo - you will still get rave reviews. I have.

Chicken Barbecue Burrito

Barbecue Burrito

Makes 6 serving

chefgeorgehirsch.com | From Grilling with Chef George Hirsch cookbook

2 pounds boneless and skinless chicken thighs

1/4 cup Barbecue Chicken Burrito Rub

2 Tablespoons olive oil

2 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce

Twelve 10-inch flour tortillas

Season chicken with rub (see below) and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat the grill to high.

Brush chicken with olive oil, place on the grill, and sear for 2 minutes on each side. Move the chicken to a cooler side of the grill and continue cooking for 4 to 5 minutes longer. Remove the chicken from the grill and allow to cool for five minutes. Shred the meat, combine it with barbecue sauce in a small saucepan, and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes on the grill or side burner.

To serve, place 3-4 Tablespoons of the chicken mixture in the center of each flour tortilla. Fold each side toward the center and roll up from the bottom. Place the burritos on a medium-hot grill and heat on both sides for 1 to 2 minutes.

Chicken Burrito Rub

Makes 1/3 cup

1 Tablespoon each of sweet paprika, oregano, black pepper, garlic powder, ground cumin, lemon zest

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Store in a tightly covered jar.