Most non-vegetarians prefer chicken to red meat, as it has low amounts of saturated fatty acids. A number of delicious dishes can be prepared with chicken using different combinations. Lemon can be a great partner to chicken. It offers a pinch of flavor and fragrance to any chicken recipe. The tart flavor of lemon gives a better taste to chicken dishes. You can use lemon juice or lemon marinade to improve the flavor of chicken grills or roasts. Another option is to use a tangy lemon sauce. Try some of the following lemon chicken recipes for this weekend.

Recipe #1: Basil Lemon Chicken

Ingredients
4 boneless chicken breast halves
1 lemon, juiced
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp spicy mustard
1 tbsp olive oil
1 dash ground black pepper
1 dash salt

Preparation
Wash chicken and pat dry. Keep it between the sheets of plastic wrap. Pound it to achieve an even thickness. Combine together chicken, lemon, mustard, olive oil, basil, pepper and salt in a plastic food storage bag. Seal it and refrigerate for about 2-4 hours. Broil or grill it on each side for about 5-7 minutes, until it is cooked well.

Recipe #2: Garlic Lemon Chicken

Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 tsp lemon juice
½ cup chicken broth
4 tsp flour
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp butter
2 tsp oil
Pepper and salt

Preparation
Flatten the chicken slightly. Dust it with flour. Sprinkle it with pepper and salt. Fry it in hot oil for about 2 minutes each side. Remove it from the pan. Then add garlic, chicken broth, butter and lemon juice to the pan. Cook it for about 2 minutes and pour this mixture over chicken.

Recipe #3: Roast Chicken with Lemony Gravy

Ingredients
4-5 lb chicken
2 lemons
¼ cup butter
2 tbsp olive oil
½ cup chicken stock
1 tbsp flour

Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cut one of the lemons into four pieces and keep them inside the chicken carcass. Squeeze another lemon. Mix half the juice into the olive oil and rub it on the chicken skin. Place it in a roasting tin and cook it for about 75-90 minutes. Baste it, until the skin turns brown and the juices run clear when tested with a knife point.

Now let’s make the gravy. Melt butter in a saucepan and add flour in it. Cook it for a few minutes and then gradually add chicken stock and remaining lemon juice with constant stirring. Stir it well so that the liquid incorporates well into the flour mixture to make a smooth sauce. Bring it to boil with continuous stirring and simmer it for about 2-3 minutes. Cut the chicken into small pieces and serve them with the lemon gravy.

Recipe #4: Tangy Lemon Chicken with Mushrooms

Ingredients
6 chicken thighs
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cup baby onions or 2 medium onions, quartered
¾ chicken or vegetable stock
2 cups mushrooms
1 level tbsp plain flour

Preparation
Brown the chicken thighs using a little oil in a non-stick frying pan. Remove them from the pan. Add more oil to the pan and fry onions, until they become brown. Add chicken thighs again to the pan and sprinkle them with the flour. Mix it well to make a flour coat. Then add sliced mushrooms. Pour hot stock and lemon juice over it. Season it with pepper and salt. Then bring it boil and then reduce the heat to simmer. Cover the pan and cook gently for about 30 minutes, until chicken is cooked well.