Chicken Straccetti alla Pizzaiola

I can provide you with the recipe for chicken straccetti alla pizzaiola, a tasty second course that combines the tenderness of chicken with the bold flavor of the pizzaiola sauce, typical of Italian cuisine. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 500 g of chicken breast
• 400 g of peeled tomatoes or tomato puree
• 1 clove of garlic
• Oregano to taste
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• A few fresh basil leaves
• Capers (optional)
• Black olives in brine (optional)
• 1 mozzarella (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by cutting the chicken breast into strips, not too thin or too thick.
2. In a large pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil and add the whole garlic clove, letting it brown to flavor the oil.
3. Once the garlic is golden, remove it and add the chicken strips. Cook them until they are evenly browned.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. At this point, add the crushed peeled tomatoes or tomato puree to the pan with the chicken. If using peeled tomatoes, break them up slightly with a spoon.
6. Add a bit of oregano, and if you want to further enrich the flavor, you can also add some capers and black olives.
7. Cook on medium-low heat for about 15-20 minutes, until the sauce has slightly thickened.
8. A few minutes before turning off the heat, if desired, you can add pieces of mozzarella on top of the strips, letting it melt.
9. At the end of cooking, garnish with torn fresh basil leaves.

Interesting Facts

“Pizzaiola” is a way of seasoning that recalls the typical ingredients of pizza, such as tomato, garlic, oregano and, sometimes, mozzarella. This cooking method adds a note of flavor and color that makes the dish very similar, both visually and taste-wise, to a pizza.

Serve the straccetti hot, perhaps accompanied by a side of grilled vegetables or a nice mixed salad. I hope you enjoy this recipe and wish you a good appetite!