Balsamic Chicken with Root Vegetables

This dish is perfect for large gatherings and utilizes the kind of winter root vegetables you can find right now at most farmers’ markets.

YOU NEED:

• 3 lbs chicken thighs, bone-in and skinless
• 1 lb carrots
• 1 lb parsnips, peeled
• 1 lb sweet potatoes
• 1 lb turnips
• 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 cups balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut the carrots into 1-inch pieces. Cut the parsnips, sweet potatoes, and turnips into 1 inch cubes. Combine the chicken thighs, carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, turnips, oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl and toss well.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and place the chicken and vegetables into a roasting pan and place into oven. Bake until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees, approximately 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, reduce the vinegar to a third of original volume, approximately 20 minutes.
4. In a dry pan over low heat, toast sesame seeds until fragrant.
5. Toss the cooked chicken and vegetables in the vinegar reduction. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve.