Pairing the Sticky Coconut Chicken and Rice Casserole with the novel "The Night Watchman" by Louise Erdrich offers an immersive experience in storytelling and gastronomy. Both the dish and the book evoke a journey across diverse flavors and narratives, enriched by the Champagne Mojito cocktail that adds a refreshing, bubbly note. The creamy and aromatic casserole harmonizes with the complex and compelling story of the book, while the cocktail lightens the experience, making your dinner both enjoyable and memorable. Together, they offer an exquisite blend of cultures and tastes, perfect for a literary dinner night.
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Season and sear the chicken: Season the chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet or casserole dish over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs, skin side down, and sear until the skin is golden brown and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Flip the chicken and sear the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the rice: In the same skillet, add the jasmine rice, coconut milk, chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, turmeric, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Combine and bake: Place the seared chicken thighs on top of the rice mixture, skin side up. Cover the skillet or casserole dish with a lid or aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
- Crisp the chicken: Remove the lid or foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes to allow the chicken skin to crisp up again.
- Finish and serve: Remove the skillet from the oven and let it sit, covered, for 5-10 minutes. This will allow the rice to absorb any remaining liquid. Garnish with sliced green onions and chopped cilantro.
- Serve: Serve the Sticky Coconut Chicken and Rice Casserole with lime wedges on the side. Enjoy!
The Night Watchman
Inspired by the life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich's grandfather, who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C., this novel explores themes of dispossession, identity, and the American experience as only Erdrich can bring to life.
WINNER OF THE 2021 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WASHINGTON POST, NPR, CBS SUNDAY MORNING, KIRKUS, CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich’s grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C., this powerful novel explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman. Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant, the first factory located near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. He is also a Chippewa Council member who is trying to understand the consequences of a new “emancipation” bill on its way to the floor of the United States Congress. It is 1953 and he and the other council members know the bill isn’t about freedom; Congress is fed up with Indians. The bill is a “termination” that threatens the rights of Native Americans to their land and their very identity. How can the government abandon treaties made in good faith with Native Americans “for as long as the grasses shall grow, and the rivers run”? Since graduating high school, Pixie Paranteau has insisted that everyone call her Patrice. Unlike most of the girls on the reservation, Patrice, the class valedictorian, has no desire to wear herself down with a husband and kids. She makes jewel bearings at the plant, a job that barely pays her enough to support her mother and brother. Patrice’s shameful alcoholic father returns home sporadically to terrorize his wife and children and bully her for money. But Patrice needs every penny to follow her beloved older sister, Vera, who moved to the big city of Minneapolis. Vera may have disappeared; she hasn’t been in touch in months, and is rumored to have had a baby. Determined to find Vera and her child, Patrice makes a fateful trip to Minnesota that introduces her to unexpected forms of exploitation and violence, and endangers her life. Thomas and Patrice live in this impoverished reservation community along with young Chippewa boxer Wood Mountain and his mother Juggie Blue, her niece and Patrice’s best friend Valentine, and Stack Barnes, the white high school math teacher and boxing coach who is hopelessly in love with Patrice. In the Night Watchman, Louise Erdrich creates a fictional world populated with memorable characters who are forced to grapple with the worst and best impulses of human nature. Illuminating the loves and lives, the desires and ambitions of these characters with compassion, wit, and intelligence, The Night Watchman is a majestic work of fiction from this revered cultural treasure.
Discussion Questions
- How does Erdrich use the parallel narratives to develop both the community's and individual characters' stories?
- In what ways do the historical events of the 1950s impact the characters’ lives in this novel?
- Discuss the significance of dreams in the novel. How do they influence the characters’ decisions and perceptions?
- How is the theme of identity explored through the multiple perspectives presented in the book?
- What role does family play in the lives of the characters, and how does it shape their actions and futures?
- Explore the symbolism of the night watchman role. What does it represent within the context of Native American struggles?
- Discuss the use of humor in the novel. How does it balance the weight of the serious themes?
- How does Erdrich evoke a sense of place and community, and why is it important to the story?
- What is the significance of the title "The Night Watchman"? How does it relate to the overall message of the book?
- How do the characters' personal struggles reflect broader societal and historical challenges?
Authors:
Louise Erdrich
ISBN: 0062671189
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published Date: 2020-03-03
Champagne Mojito
The Champagne Mojito adds a sparkling twist to the classic cocktail, offering a refreshing and effervescent blend of mint, lime, and bubbly champagne that's invigorating and perfect with the tropical flavors of the casserole.
Ingredients
- Mint leaves
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- Juice from 1 lime
- 1 ounce light rum
- Champagne
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- In a glass, muddle the mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup.
- Add ice cubes and pour in the light rum.
- Top off with champagne and gently stir to combine.
- Garnish with a sprig of mint or a lime wedge before serving.