Chicken Stew

Chicken stew is a simple and tasty dish that can be prepared for a comforting dinner. Here’s the recipe to make it with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

• 600 g of chicken pieces (you can use thighs, drumsticks, or breast, depending on your preference)
• 1 large chopped onion
• 2 medium carrots sliced into rounds
• 2 celery stalks cut into pieces
• 500 ml of chicken or vegetable broth
• 400 g of chopped peeled tomatoes (or tomato purée)
• Flour, as needed to flour the chicken
• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Aromatic herbs to taste (rosemary, bay leaves, thyme)
• 1 glass of white wine (optional)

Preparation

1. Lightly flour the chicken pieces.
2. In a large and deep pot, heat the olive oil and brown the chicken on all sides until golden. Remove the chicken and set aside.
3. In the same pot, add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until they become soft and the onion turns transparent.
4. If you decide to use wine, pour it now and let the alcohol evaporate for a couple of minutes.
5. Add the peeled tomatoes, aromatic herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
6. Return the chicken to the pot with the vegetables and sauce.
7. Add the broth until it almost completely covers the chicken.
8. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer with the lid on for about 30-40 minutes or until the chicken is tender.
9. If the sauce is too liquid, you can reduce it over a higher heat in the last few minutes of cooking, without the lid.

During cooking, check the flavor and adjust the salt and pepper if necessary. This dish is ideally served with a simple side like mashed potatoes or soft polenta, which pair perfectly with the stew’s sauce.

Curiosity

Chicken stew is a faster variant of the traditional red meat stew, but not any less tasty. In Italy, olives, capers, or chili pepper are often added to enrich the flavor of the dish.