Ingredients

Chicken

3 pounds dark meat chicken (a mix of thighs and legs)

1 teaspoon saffron threads

1 teaspoon cumin seed

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

4 cloves garlic , chopped

zest of 1 lemon (reserve lemon for plum sauce)

2 teaspoons sea salt

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Plum Sauce

1 pound plums (preferably a variety of sweet European prune plums), cut into 1-inch slices**

2 shallots , chopped

1 lemon (reserved from spice rub) , quartered

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon minced or grated ginger root

1 tablespoon honey (optional***)

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

6 bay leaves , preferably fresh