Clay-Pot Miso Chicken

Though this rich, intense, homey stew has the depth of a recipe handed down through generations, it's actually a modern interpretation, by Momofuku partner Joaquin Baca, of a Mexican stew he grew up eating, made with Japanese ingredients. And it's the best kind of comfort food: The dark greens, mushrooms, and burdock, braised with silky chicken in a savory broth, make this single dish feel like a satisfying, well-balanced meal.

Yield:

Serves 8 Generously (Main Course)

Ingredients

1. 16 chicken thighs with skin and bone (5 lb)
2. 1 cup dried wood ear mushrooms
3. 10 cups water, divided
4. About 4 cups chicken stock or reduced-sodium chicken broth (32 fl oz)
5. 2 (9-inch) stalks burdock root (sometimes called gobo) or salsify (optional)
6. 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar or fresh lemon juice
7. 3 tablespoons canola oil
8. 2 large onions, coarsely chopped
9. 1 lb fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded, large caps quartered
10. 3 tablespoons finely chopped peeled ginger
11. 3 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
12. 1 cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
13. 1 cup white miso (also called shiro miso)
14. 1/2 cup soy sauce
15. 1 lb mustard greens, tough stems and ribs discarded and leaves coarsely chopped (16 cups)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 500°F with rack in middle.
2. Pat chicken dry, then roast, skin side up, in 1 layer in a 17- by 12-inch shallow baking pan until skin is golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.
3. While chicken roasts, soak wood ear mushrooms in 4 cups water until softened, about 15 minutes. Drain in a sieve, then rinse well and discard any hard pieces. Drain well, squeezing out excess water.
4. Transfer roasted chicken to a bowl and pour pan juices through a fine-mesh sieve into a 1-quart glass measure. Let stand until fat rises to top, 1 to 2 minutes, then skim off and discard fat. Add enough stock to bring total to 4 cups liquid.
5. Reduce oven to 300°F and move rack to lower third.
6. Peel burdock root, and, if more than 1-inch-thick, halve lengthwise. Cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces. Transfer burdock root to a bowl, then add vinegar and 2 cups water.
7. Heat oil in a 7- to 8-quart heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté onions until softened and beginning to brown. Add shiitakes, ginger, and garlic and sauté until garlic is golden, 3 to 5 minutes.
8. Add mirin and boil, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, 1 minute. Stir in miso and soy sauce, then stir in chicken, wood ear mushrooms, burdock (drained), stock mixture, and remaining 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, skimming off any froth.
9. Cover pot and braise in oven until chicken is tender, about 1 hour.
10. Stir in mustard greens and continue to braise, covered, 5 minutes. Serve in shallow bowls.

Notes

COOKS’NOTE: Clay-pot miso chicken, without mustard greens, improves in flavor if made 1 to 2 days ahead. Chill, uncovered, until cool, then cover. To reheat, bring to a simmer over medium heat, gently stirring occasionally, then stir in mustard greens and simmer, covered, until greens are tender, about 5 minutes.