Chicken Cacciatore
James Carrier
Notes: To save time, you can use purchased cooked polenta, often sold refrigerated in cylinders in supermarkets (near the cheese). Skip step 4; instead, cut cylinder crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds, lay on a baking sheet, brush with olive oil, and broil 4 to 6 inches from heat until lightly browned, or grill oiled rounds. In step 5, arrange polenta rounds on plates and top with chicken cacciatore.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Rinse chicken and pat dry; remove and discard excess fat.
Step 2
2
Pour olive oil into a 5- to 6-quart nonstick pan over high heat; when hot, add chicken and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, 5 to 7 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
Step 3
3
Add onion, carrots, mushrooms, and garlic to pan; stir often until mushrooms begin to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and their juices, tomato sauce, rosemary, and the chicken with any accumulated juices; bring to a simmer, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 5 minutes. Turn chicken over and simmer, covered, until no longer pink in center of thickest part (cut to test), about 5 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Step 4
4
Meanwhile, in a 3- to 4-quart pan, stir broth and polenta until well blended. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring often; reduce heat to low and stir often until polenta is creamy and smooth to bite, 8 to 12 minutes (about 3 minutes for cornmeal).
Step 5
5
Spoon polenta into wide bowls or onto rimmed plates. Top with equal portions of chicken and sauce; sprinkle with parsley. Add parmesan cheese and more salt and pepper to taste.
Ingredients
4 boned, skinned chicken thighs (5 oz. each)
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 onion (8 oz.), peeled and chopped
2 carrots (8 oz. total), peeled and chopped
8 ounces sliced mushrooms (about 3 cups)
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves or crumbled dried rosemary
Salt and pepper
1 quart fat-skimmed chicken broth
1 cup polenta or yellow cornmeal (see notes)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Grated parmesan cheese
Directions
Step 1
1
Rinse chicken and pat dry; remove and discard excess fat.
Step 2
2
Pour olive oil into a 5- to 6-quart nonstick pan over high heat; when hot, add chicken and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, 5 to 7 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
Step 3
3
Add onion, carrots, mushrooms, and garlic to pan; stir often until mushrooms begin to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and their juices, tomato sauce, rosemary, and the chicken with any accumulated juices; bring to a simmer, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 5 minutes. Turn chicken over and simmer, covered, until no longer pink in center of thickest part (cut to test), about 5 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Step 4
4
Meanwhile, in a 3- to 4-quart pan, stir broth and polenta until well blended. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring often; reduce heat to low and stir often until polenta is creamy and smooth to bite, 8 to 12 minutes (about 3 minutes for cornmeal).
Step 5
5
Spoon polenta into wide bowls or onto rimmed plates. Top with equal portions of chicken and sauce; sprinkle with parsley. Add parmesan cheese and more salt and pepper to taste.
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