Spicy Italian Chicken Casserole

Ingredients

  • 5 chicken thighs , skin on, bone in (about 200g / 7 oz each) (Note 1 for breast)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves , minced
  • 1 medium onion , finely chopped
  • 1 EACH red and green capsicum / bell pepper , sliced
  • ½ cup / 125 ml white or red wine (any is fine, I use dry white) (Note 2 for subs)
  • 800 g / 28 oz can crushed tomato
  • ¾ cup / 185 ml water , swilled in empty tomato can
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes (chilli flakes), adjust to taste
  • 3/4 cup black olives , pitted (or 1/3 cup sliced)
  • 2 tbsp baby capers
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup finely chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Use a small knife to prick 5 or so gashes into the skin of the chicken. Sprinkle each side with salt and pepper.
  • Place chicken skin side down in a cold large non stick skillet, then turn stove onto medium high. As it heats up, the fat under the skin will start to melt through the holes in the skin.
  • Cook for 4 – 5 minutes or until the skin is golden and crispy. Turn the chicken and cook the other side for 3 minutes.
  • Remove chicken onto a plate, discard fat (don’t scrape the pan) then return to the stove.
  • Add oil, garlic and onion. Cook for 1 minute, then add capsicum. Cook for 2 minutes then add wine. Bring to a simmer and stir, scraping the pan to get those golden bits mixed in.
  • Once most of the wine is evaporated and it doesn’t smell winey anymore, add the tomato, water and pepper flakes. Stir, bring to a simmer, adjust heat so it’s bubbling energetically but not rapidly (and not slowly).
  • After 5 minutes (or so), stir through olives and capers. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper.
  • Then place chicken into the sauce, being careful not to submerge the skin. Cook for another 5 minutes.
  • Sprinkle over parsley. Serve with crusty bread, or use half the sauce to toss through / pour over pasta and the other half to serve with chicken (see photos in post

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