Serves 6-8

• 2 Whole Chickens, Cut in Eighths
• 1/2 head of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup pitted prunes
• 1/4 cup pitted Spanish green olives
• 1/4 cup capers with a bit of juice
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 2 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley or cilantro, finely chopped

 

Marinate the chicken

In a large bowl combine garlic, oregano, salt and pepper to taste, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, olives, capers with caper juice, and bay leaves. Add the chicken pieces and coat completely with the marinade. Cover and let marinate, refrigerated, several hours or overnight.

 

Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Arrange chicken in a single layer in one or two large, shallow baking pans and spoon marinade over it evenly. Sprinkle chicken pieces with brown sugar and pour white wine around them.

Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, basting frequently with the pan juices. Chicken is done when thigh pieces, pricked with a fork at their thickest point, yield clear yellow juice (not pink).

 

To serve

With a slotted spoon, transfer chicken, prunes, olives, and capers to a serving platter. Add some of the pan juices and sprinkle generously with parsley or cilantro. Serve remaining juice in a gravy boat.