Chicken Stemperata - {Stemperata Di Pollo}

By á-170456

Ingredients

• 1 chicken - (3 1/2 lbs) cleaned, and cut
• into 8 serving portions, and breast cut
• into 2 pieces
• Salt to taste
• Freshly-ground black pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 medium russet potatoes peeled, and cut into large cubes
• 2 red, yellow, or orange peppers cored, seeded, and cut into medium strips
• 1 celery stalk cut large pieces
• 2 small unpeeled eggplants cut large cubes
• 2 medium carrots peeled, and thinly sliced into 1/2"thk rounds
• 2 tablespoons salt packed capers rinsed, drained
• 1/2 cup whole pitted Sicilian olives (the green variety)
• 4 fresh plum tomatoes cut large pieces
• 5 whole chiles
• 1 1/2 cups dry red wine
• 1/4 bunch fresh chopped mint leaves
• 1/4 bunch fresh chopped parsley leaves
• 1 pinch chile flakes

Preparation

Step 1

Pat the cleaned chicken dry, and then season the pieces with salt and pepper. In a 12- to 14-inch saute pan, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil until hot but not smoking. Carefully add the chicken pieces and brown on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.

In the pan with the chicken drippings add potatoes, peppers, celery, eggplant, carrot, capers, olives, tomatoes and whole chiles. Toss together. Add the wine and chicken, season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover, lower the heat to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Remove from the heat and stir in chopped mint, parsley and a pinch of chili flakes.

Transfer the cooked stew to a serving dish and allow to cool to room temperature before serving. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and serve.

This recipe yields 4 servings.