Chicken with Beer

Chicken with beer is a flavorful dish that combines the sweetness of chicken meat with the rich flavors of beer. Here is how to prepare it:

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken cut into pieces or chicken parts of choice (about 1.2 kg)
• 330 ml of light or amber beer (you can also use a Belgian beer for a more intense flavor)
• 2 medium onions chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic crushed
• 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 100 ml of chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Flour to dust the chicken pieces

Preparation

1. Lightly flour the chicken pieces, this will help to create a crust during cooking and thicken the sauce.
2. In a large pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil and brown the chicken pieces over medium-high heat until they are golden on all sides. Once browned, remove the chicken pieces from the pan and set aside.
3. In the same pan, add the chopped onions and crushed garlic, frying them until they are soft and translucent.
4. Put the chicken pieces back in the pan and pour in the beer, making sure to deglaze the pan well to recover all the flavors from the juices left by the chicken.
5. Add the chicken broth, rosemary, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat, letting it simmer for about 30-40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked and the sauce is reduced and slightly thickened. During cooking, turn the chicken pieces from time to time and adjust for salt and pepper.
6. When the chicken is cooked, remove the rosemary sprigs and bay leaf before serving.

Curiosity

Beer chicken is a dish that can have different regional variations. The beer, in addition to bringing a unique flavor, helps to make the chicken extremely soft because its properties begin to break down the muscle fibers making the meat tender and succulent.

To make the dish even more Italian, you can serve it with a portion of creamy polenta or a nice slice of toasted homemade bread to soak up the sauce.