Poulet aux Olives (Chicken with Olives)

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 pounds skin-on chicken thighs, dried with paper towels
• 2 onions, halved and thinly sliced
• ¾ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 30 threads saffron, bloomed in 1 cup warm water
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 ½ inch knob of ginger, grated
• 1 bunch cilantro leaves, chopped
• 2 cups whole Kalamata olives, rinsed
• ¾ cup water