CHICKEN CACCIATORE

One of my most favourite cookbooks is “Polpo – A Venetian Cookbook (of Sorts)”. There are some amazing recipes in it and not too hard to make either. This recipe, chicken cacciatore is very easy and is actually my adaptation as the original is is for rabbit (which I have made and is just as good). I can make this recipe without the book and with all the herbs I have in the garden it really makes this dish one of my favourites.

 

INGREDIENTS

– 500g Chicken

– 3 Carrots, Finely Chopped

– 3 Celery Sticks, Finely Chopped

– 1 Large Onion, Finley Chopped

– 2 Garlic Cloves, Finely Chopped

– 2 Rosemary Sprigs, Leaves Roughly Chopped

– 4 Thyme Sprigs, Leaves Only

– Flakey Sea Salt and Black Pepper to Taste

– A Glass of White Wine

– 2 x 400g Tins of Tomatoes

– 1 Handful of Black Olives, Stoned

– 1 Handful of Flat Leaf Parsley Leaves, Chopped

– I added lemon thyme and sage also

METHOD

Put the chicken into a plastic bag with enough seasoned flour to coat. Give it a good shake, place into a large pot with 150ml of olive oil and cook until they are nice and browned on all sides. Cook in batches, remove and place to one side. Next add the carrot, celery, onion, garlic, thyme and rosemary to the pot. Season with salt and pepper, turn down the heat and soften for 5 minutes or so.

When the vegetables start to stick, add the glass of wine and while it sizzle and bubbles away scrape up all the flavour bits that are on the bottom of the pot. Add the tomatoes, a cup of water and the black olives then bring to the boil. Add the meat and bring back to the boil. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2hrs.

 

Taste the sauce and season if necessary. Serve in a large bowel and top with parsley. This dish can be served with Molecular Mash or just with a nice crusty bread. Enjoy.