Duck Cacciatore Recipes

HUNTER'S CHICKEN STEW (POLLO ALLA CACCIATORA)

Steps:

• Chicken cacciatora seems to be reasonably well known in Britain because it's the classic pre-packed dish you find in Italian food ranges in supermarkets (which, to be honest, never taste of much). When you get the real deal cooked at home with love and passion it's a totally different experience. It's a simple combination of flavours that just works really well. Cacciatore means 'hunter', so this is obviously the type of food that a hunter's wife cooks for her fella when he gets home from a hard morning spent in the countryside. This is also a great dish for big parties, as it looks after itself in the oven. In the picture I've made it for about 12 people.
• Season the chicken pieces with salt and freshly ground black pepper and put them into a bowl. Add the bay leaves and rosemary sprigs and the crushed clove of garlic and cover with the wine. Leave to marinate for at least an hour, but preferably overnight in the fridge.
• Preheat your oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Drain the chicken, reserving the marinade, and pat dry with kitchen paper. Dust the chicken pieces with flour and shake off any excess. Heat an ovenproof pan, add a splash of olive oil, fry the chicken pieces until browned lightly all over and put to one side.
• Place the pan back on the heat and add the sliced garlic. Fry gently until golden brown, then add the anchovies, olives, tomatoes (broken up with a wooden spoon) and the chicken pieces with their reserved marinade. Bring to the boil, cover with a lid or a double thickness layer of foil and bake in the preheated oven for 1½ hours.
• Skim off any oil that's collected on top of the sauce, then stir, taste and add a little salt and pepper if necessary. Remove the bay leaves and rosemary sprigs, and serve with a salad, or some cannellini beans, and plenty of Chianti.

CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large ovenproof pan.
• Dust the chicken with flour and brown the pieces on a high heat.
• Remove the chicken, lower the heat and add the onions.
• Once the onions are translucent, add the garlic and red peppers and fry for 2 minutes.
• Turn up the heat, add the wine and let it bubble for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and stock, and stir well.
• Return the chicken to the pan with the sauce and let the mixture reach a bubbling point.
• Lower the heat until the stew slowly simmers and continue to cook for 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked and tender.
• Add the capers at the last minute and sprinkle the parsley upon serving.
• Serve with buttered pasta.

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.

DUCK CACCIATORE'

Steps:

• Slice filets across the grain about 1/2 inch thick.
• Coat with flour.
• Saute with garlic in olive oil for 5 minutes on each side.
• Combine remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Add all to skillet or put everything into crock pot.
• Simmer, covered, in skillet for 1 hour or cook in crock pot on LOW for 7-9 hours.

DUCK CACCIATORE

Steps:

• Sprinkle the duck pieces with salt and pepper, then dust lightly with flour.
• Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the duck pieces on both sides until golden brown. Remove the duck to a plate and pour off most of the fat from the pot. In the same pot, over medium heat, add the garlic, carrots, celery, onions, and red wine. Scrape the pot to dislodge the brown bits stuck to the bottom. Next add the tomatoes and mushrooms, and stir. Place the duck on top of the vegetables and top with the butter and parsley. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 1 hour.
• Remove the duck and vegetables to a serving platter. Spoon over the juices and serve warm.