Basque-Style Chicken Dish

Cooking Time

Approximately 45 minutes, plus additional time for preparation and serving.

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (approximately 4 pounds), cut into 8 pieces
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• A dash of cayenne pepper or piment d’Espelètte
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 red bell peppers, sliced
• 2 green bell peppers, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 16 ounces canned Italian plum tomatoes
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 chicken bouillon cube or 1/2 cup light chicken broth
• 3 sprigs of flat parsley, finely chopped
• Rice pilaf, for serving

Cooking Instructions

Begin by seasoning the chicken pieces generously with salt, pepper, and a hint of cayenne pepper. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat for about two minutes, then add the butter. As soon as the butter melts and the foam diminishes, place the chicken in the pot, skin side down. Sear until the skin turns golden-brown, approximately five minutes, then remove the chicken and set it aside on a plate.

Next, incorporate the sliced bell peppers and onions into the pot while lowering the heat to medium-low. Sauté these vegetables for about 10 minutes until they soften. Add the canned tomatoes, allowing the mixture to cook until the liquid reduces by half. Pour in the white wine, scraping the bottom of the pot to release all the flavorful bits, and let it reduce by another half.

Afterward, add the water and either the bouillon cube or the broth, then return the chicken to the pot along with any collected juices. Cover the pot and let it simmer gently on low heat for about 25 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.

Once the chicken is cooked through, transfer it to a serving platter. Increase the heat to high and bring the sauce to a boil until it thickens, which should take around five minutes. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as desired, then stir in the chopped parsley. Finally, drizzle the sauce over the chicken and serve it alongside rice pilaf for a sumptuous meal!