Chicken Cacciatore Alla Calabrese
- Two larger (or 3-4 medium) white onions cut in long thin strips, as thin as you can by hand - cutting length-wise. The onions will be devoured, so better to err on the side of too many.
- 8-12 pieces of chicken, skin removed, bones optional (dark meat is much preferred as white meat will be very, very dry),
- Fresh Rosemary - lots 2-3 tablespoons,
- Fresh Basil - 1 tablespoons. If using dry - much less - maybe 1 tsp or so.
- 1/2 - 1 tsp dried oregano to taste,
- Salt and Pepper,
- Dry Marsala wine - approximately 3-4 cups,
- Chicken broth or water - approximately 3-4 cups
- The trick to this dish's rich, deep flavor is caramelizing the onions. Don't be shy. You want them good and brown!
- Heat 2-3 tablespoons olive oil in large, heavy skillet, add onions.
- Sautee onions until most are browned, not not tan, not golden, not translucent: browned. This will take several minutes. Don't rush and don't skimp. They will shrink drastically.
- Once you have well-done onions, add chicken pieces, nestling them in so they aren't on top of onions. The goal is to form a bit of crust on chicken. Time for each side will depend on cut/bone in or out, etc.
- Cook each side until crust forms. (Hint: if you over fill the skillet and/or don't cook the liquid off the onions first, you will have a hard time getting a crust on chicken. Not to worry, it will still taste great.).
- After both sides have browned (and your onions will be getting semi-crusty in spots, even a few close to burnt), add Rosemary, salt and pepper, Oregano and Basil;
- Immediately add two cups each: Marsala and broth (or water). If you prefer a more pronounced Marsala flavor, adjust your proportions. You want the chicken nearly covered by liquids but not submerged, so adjust amounts as needed;
- Next, take a metal spatula and loosen up all the bits of onion and chicken stuck to the pan, thoroughly integrating with the liquids. You should have a beautiful dark brown gravy in the making;
- Lower heat, partially cover.
- Turn chicken every 15-20 minutes.
- Add more wine/broth during the cooking process as needed. Your goal is to finish with plenty of liquid in the pan for pouring over and sopping up with crusty bread;
- Cook for at least 90 minutes, 2 - 2 1/2 hours is better as it it renders the meat fall-off-the-bone tender.
- Even better the next day. Reheat on slowly on stove, not microwave. You can also cook 90 minutes day one, then about 60 the next day.
- Add salt to taste. Serve covered with the onion gravy.
larger, chicken, rosemary lots, fresh basil, oregano, salt, marsala wine, chicken broth
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/chicken-cacciatore-alla-calabrese-52749291 (may not work)