There is almost nothing more pleasing than the aromatic delights of garlic, onions and olives simmering in a pan of tomatoes. Chicken Cacciatore means Chicken Hunter Style in Italian. Chicken legs simmer in a rich, thick and savory sauce that will be served over a bed of noodles.
The sauce used in this recipe is reminiscent of a salsa putanesca but it does not use anchovies. Very easy to prepare, simply let the dish simmer and in about an hour you will have a taste treat you will not soon forget.
Chicken Cacciatore:
Ingredients:
- 1/3 c olive oil plus 2 tbs olive oil
- 2 tsp butter
- 1 medium red onion chopped
- 5 garlic cloves crushed or finely diced
- 1/3 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/3 c pitted sliced black olives
- 1/3 c sliced pimento stuffed green Spanish olives
- 1 tbsp capers
- 3/4 c red wine plus 1/3 c red wine
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 24 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 c chopped parsley
- 8 chicken legs
Sauce Preparation:
- In a large sauce pan heat olive oil over med heat
- Add onion and garlic and cook til translucent
- Pour in crushed tomatoes
- Add all other ingredients except chicken legs and stir well
- Reduce heat to med low, cover and allow to simmer for 30 min stirring occasionally
Chicken Preparation:
- Remove chicken legs from package
- Rinse well under cold running water
- Pat dry and sprinkle with salt
- Heat butter and 2 tbsp olive oil over med high heat
- Brown legs turning to ensure they are browned on all sides
- Deglaze with about 1/4 to 1/3 c red wine turning legs to coat with wine
- Allow to simmer for 1 or 2 min
- Remove from heat
Cacciatore Preparation:
- When sauce is done, place pan with chicken legs back on stove over med low heat
- Pour sauce over chicken, cover and allow to simmer for 30 min
- Serve over a bed of noodles
Use a noodle that will hold your sauce well. Farfalle noodles are a good choice for this dish. Cook 12 oz of noodles according to package directions.
To serve chicken cacciatore, place the drained noodles on a serving platter, arrange chicken legs on top of noodles and pour sauce over the top.
Side dishes served with this dish are best kept light and simple. Squash, artichokes or sauteed mushrooms are all good choices. Don't forget to serve a good loaf of crusty Italian or French bread with your chicken, you'll want to soak up any left over sauce.
A good dessert choice for this meal is a nice fruity Italian sorbet or fruit ice. Even a simple macaroon with an espresso will compliment the flavors wonderfully.
