Sicilian Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipes

SICILIAN BRAISED SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy-based heat-proof casserole, add the garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden, then discard the garlic.
• Dust the chicken in seasoned flour and shake away the excess, then cook in the oil over medium heat until light golden all over-this will need to be done in a couple of batches.
• Remove all from the pan.
• Add the onion and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until almost soft.
• Add the wine, bay leaf rosemary and vinegar and boil for 2 minutes.
• Add the stock, then return the chicken to the pan and bring to the boil, then cover and simmer gently, turning once, for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is tender.
• Remove the chicken from the pan and keep warm.
• Add the sugar, currants and olives to pan and simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce is syrupy.
• Return the chicken to the pan and stir in the parsley and pine nuts and serve immediately.

SICILIAN SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place raisins in a small dish. Add wine and set aside.
• Place chicken between 2 sheets plastic wrap and pound to 1/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle chicken with 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper; dredge in flour.
• Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add chicken and cook until browned on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Remove chicken and add onion and garlic to pan. Saute for about 2 minutes; then add oregano, remaining salt and pepper, sugar and vinegar. Stir in tomatoes, capers and olives. Add raisins to sauce and stir in chicken broth; cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Return chicken to pan and heat through.
• Arrange chicken and sauce on serving platter and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Garnish with tomato roses.

SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN: POLLO IN AGRODOLCE

Steps:

• Remove all the skin and trim the fat from the chicken.
• Cut the chicken into 8 small pieces, using both the breast and the thighs, season with salt and pepper.
• In a Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat.
• When the oil starts to shimmer, add the chicken pieces and cook until golden brown, about 10 minutes on each side.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken pieces from the pan and set them aside.
• Add the onions and celery and let cook, stirring constantly, until soft and slightly golden, about 5 minutes.
• Return the chicken pieces to the pot.
• Add the currants, sugar, vinegar, olives, capers and half the olives.
• Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Turn the heat to high and cook, turning the chicken constantly, until the vinegar evaporates, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Turn the heat to medium-low, cover the saucepan and allow the chicken to cook through, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Serve family style, garnished with the remaining almonds, fennel fronds, juice from orange wedges and pepperoncini.

CHICKEN AGRODOLCE (AN ITALIAN SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN)

Steps:

• In a large plastic bag, combine flour and chicken breasts, toss to coat.
• In a large skillet, saute floured chicken breasts in olive oil with the whole garlic, bay leaves and allspice berries until chicken is browned.
• Remove chicken to a plate.
• To the skillet, add honey, vinegar and wine; cook to reduce slightly, about 10 minutes on medium-high heat.
• Return chicken to skillet, add orange and lemon juices, salt and pepper, and cook about another 20 minutes or until chicken is done and sauce is reduced slightly.
• Remove garlic, bay leaves and allspice berries from sauce.
• Add pignoli and heat through, another 5 minutes or so.
• Delicious with angel hair pasta or a nice risotto.