Chicken Leg Cacciatore With Sweet Peppers Fennel And Green Olives Recipes

CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven or similar deep, sturdy pot over medium-high. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Once the oil is hot and shimmering (but not so hot it starts smoking), add the chicken in a single layer. Cook on the first side for 3 to 4 minutes, until browned, moving the chicken as little as possible so that it gets a nice sear. Flip and brown on the other side, about 2 additional minutes. Transfer the chicken to a large, clean plate. The chicken does not need to be cooked through.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, onion, and bell pepper. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 4 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, or until the garlic is fragrant.
• Add the white wine. Stir and let simmer until the wine is reduced by approximately half, about 3 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes with their juices, mushrooms, Italian seasoning, and balsamic vinegar, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer. Let the sauce simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Nestle the chicken thighs into the tomato sauce, along with any drippings that have collected on the plate. The chicken should be mostly submerged, though some may peek through.
• Partially cover the pot and let simmer 15 to 20 additional minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, the sauce is thickened, and the mushrooms are tender.
• If you'd like to dice or shred the chicken, remove it to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, dice or shred it, then return it to the pot. You also can serve the chicken thighs whole.
• Taste and season the sauce with additional salt and pepper as desired. If you've chopped or shredded the chicken, return it to the sauce and toss to combine and warm through. Otherwise, serve the chicken pieces whole with a generous amount of sauce on top.
• Serve hot over pasta, rice, polenta, or veggie noodles, with a big extra spoonful of sauce and a sprinkle of parsley and Parmesan.

CHICKEN-LEG CACCIATORE WITH SWEET PEPPERS, FENNEL, AND GREEN OLIVES

Steps:

• Place chicken legs and thighs in a large bowl; add brine and toss to coat. Transfer to refrigerator for 30 minutes. Remove chicken from brine and pat dry.
• Preheat broiler and preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Season chicken with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, oregano, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place chicken on a broiler pan on the middle rack and broil until skin begins to crisp, about 2 1/2 minutes. Rotate pan and continue cooking until skin is crisp, about 2 1/2 minutes more.
• Transfer chicken to oven and bake until juices run clear, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add sausage and cook until fat is rendered, about 2 minutes. Add onion, fennel, and remaining salt. Cover pan and let cook until vegetables are just softened, about 3 minutes.
• Uncover and stir in garlic; cook for 1 minute. Add wine and cook until evaporated, about 30 seconds. Add roasted peppers and tomatoes; cook until tomatoes are broken down, vegetables have softened, and mixture is thickened, about 20 minutes.
• Add olives and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove pan from heat and add basil, parsley, and chicken; stir to coat. Serve immediately with generous portions of sauce poured over the chicken.

ITALIAN CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook onion, stirring often, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a pot.
• Combine flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Toss chicken thighs in the flour mixture until evenly coated.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the skillet over medium heat, add chicken thighs, and brown on one side, without turning, for 5 minutes. Turn and cook until browned on the other side, about 5 minutes more. Transfer browned chicken thighs to the pot.
• Pour white wine into the skillet; bring to a boil. Stir to loosen all the browned bits of chicken and flavors in the skillet pour into the pot. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Add as much chicken stock as needed to cover the chicken. Cover pot and simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 45 minutes.
• Stir in olives, parsley, and basil. Stir to heat through.