Angela Patrone, Senior Lifestyle Reporter, tested two chicken traybake recipes from celebrity chefs Rick Stein and Mary Berry. Stein's version emerged as the winner, offering superior taste and presentation despite requiring more preparation. Patrone has made Stein's dish three times in the past month, making it a firm family favorite.
Recipe Comparison
Both recipes are simple traybakes that cook chicken and vegetables together in a single oven tray. Stein's chicken, lemon, and garlic traybake uses chicken thighs, fennel, courgette slices, and baby potatoes, with fresh lemons for seasoning. Mary Berry's Mediterranean all-in-one chicken includes chicken thighs and drumsticks, vibrant vegetables, and preserved lemons, but Patrone omitted green olives and increased roasting time by 10 minutes.
Preparation and Taste
Stein's recipe requires pan-searing the chicken before baking, which crisps the skin and keeps the meat tender. The fresh lemons provide a significantly better flavor compared to Berry's preserved lemons, which Patrone found overly salty. Patrone noted that Stein's dish uses fewer ingredients and is cheaper to make than Berry's version.
Results and Recommendation
Patrone concluded that Stein's chicken traybake is tastier and looks better, making it her go-to recipe. She has returned to it three times within a single month, praising its flavor and simplicity.
