Honey-Pepper Chicken & Farro

Remove the honey from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Heat a medium saucepan of salted water to boiling on high. Once boiling, add the farro and cook, uncovered, 16 to 18 minutes, or until tender. Turn off the heat. Drain thoroughly and return to the saucepan.

While the farro cooks, wash and dry the fresh produce. Cut the eggplant crosswise into ½-inch-thick rounds. Cut off and discard the pepper stems. Halve the peppers lengthwise; remove and discard the ribs and seeds. Thinly slice crosswise. Cut the chives into ½-inch pieces. Roughly chop the parsley leaves and stems. Quarter the tomatoes. Peel the cucumber, leaving alternating strips of skin intact; halve lengthwise. Scoop out and discard the seeds. Thinly slice crosswise. Peel the garlic; using the flat side of your knife, smash to flatten. In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, garlic, and half the vinegar. Drizzle with olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Set aside to marinate, stirring occasionally, for at least 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

While the vegetables marinate, place the eggplant on a sheet pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt and pepper; turn to thoroughly coat. Arrange in a single layer. Roast, flipping halfway through, 22 to 24 minutes, or until browned and softened. Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving dish.

While the eggplant roasts, in a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the peppers; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Transfer to the saucepan of cooked farro. Add half the chives, the remaining vinegar, and a drizzle of olive oil. Stir to combine; season with salt and pepper to taste.

While the eggplant continues to roast, in a bowl, whisk together the spice blend, honey, and 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. In the same pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken in a single layer. Cook 4 to 6 minutes on the first side, or until lightly browned. Flip and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the sauce; cook, constantly spooning the sauce over the chicken, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Turn off the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

While the chicken cooks, remove and discard the garlic from the bowl of marinated vegetables. Add the parsley. Stir to combine; season with salt and pepper to taste. Top the roasted eggplant with the finished vegetables (draining before adding). Garnish with the cheese. Divide the farro salad among 4 dishes. Top with the cooked chicken and any remaining sauce. Garnish with the remaining chives. Enjoy!