Rock Cornish Hen Cacciatore With Spaghetti Recipes

SPAGHETTI CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• In a 4 or 5 quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil. Add bacon and cook until browned and crisped. With a slotted spoon remove bacon to a medium bowl. Leave the drippings in the skillet.
• Season the chicken with ½ teaspoon of the salt and ¼ teaspoon of the pepper. Cook the chicken in batches; add half of the chicken pieces to the Dutch oven and cook until golden brown. With a slotted spoon remove chicken pieces to the bowl with bacon. Repeat process with remaining chicken pieces.
• Leave any drippings in the Dutch oven and add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add garlic, mushrooms and Rosemary and cook while stirring until the mushrooms begin to soften, about 2 minutes.
• Add balsamic vinegar and cook while stirring until some of the balsamic vinegar has evaporated, about 1 minute.
• Add tomatoes, tomato paste and bay leaf to the Dutch oven along with the reserved bacon and chicken; stir to combine. Season the sauce with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Cook over medium-high heat while stirring until the sauce bubbles. Let bubble for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 - 40 minutes until the sauce has slightly thickened.
• Meanwhile, start boiling a large pot of lightly salted water. Add spaghetti and once it comes to a full boil, cook for 8 - 10 minutes until al a dente (or follow package directions). Drain spaghetti, ladle portions of spaghetti into serving plates or bowls and top with chicken cacciatore sauce. Garnish each serving with parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.

ROCK CORNISH HEN CACCIATORE WITH SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Rinse Rock Cornish Hen and with breast up divide hen in half. I use kitchen shears cut through breast then fold flat and cut hen in half.
• Lightly salt and pepper hen and place in large frying with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil added. Just saute until slightly browned on both sides. You could prepare the hens in advance and bake as I did for my Rock Cornish Hen with Wild Rice, which see. Then rewarm the hens in the sauce.
• Cook spaghetti until done with a little salt added to water. I prepare large batches of spaghetti and then freeze in meal sized portions. I then just nuke with additional water when needed.
• SAUCE: Remove hen from pan and add all sauce ingredients except the water and grated cheese. Medium low simmer for 15 minutes to cook veggies.
• Add hens back to pan and medium low simmer for 40 to 60 minutes, covered or uncovered. Spoon sauce over hens occasionally. Add a little water at times to keep sauce moist.
• Plate and serve. I added some chopped Green Onion tops to garnish. Provide grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese to top, some Garlic Bread, and serve with a nice glass of Chianti Wine. Ciao