Chicken Stew: A Traditional and Delicious Recipe
Chicken stew is a classic Italian dish, perfect for family lunches or a comforting dinner on cold winter evenings. This recipe is versatile, tasty and easy to prepare, with simple ingredients that combine to create a dish full of flavor. Let's see together how to make a succulent and tender chicken stew that will drive everyone at the table crazy!
Ingredients for 4 people:
- 800 g chicken breast (or chicken thighs, if you prefer juicier meat), cut into cubes
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery ribs, chopped
- 2 large potatoes, diced
- 400 g of tomato pulp (or peeled tomatoes)
- 1 glass of dry white wine
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 sprig of rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chicken broth (enough to cover the ingredients)
Procedure
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Preparing the Ingredients Start by cutting the chicken into uniformly sized cubes, so that they cook evenly. Also prepare the vegetables: chop the onion, cut the carrots and celery into rings, and the potatoes into cubes.
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Brown the Chicken In a large pot, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken cubes and brown them for a few minutes, until they are golden brown on all sides. This step is essential to seal in the juices and make them more flavorful.
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Cooking Vegetables Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside. In the same pot, add the chopped onion, celery and carrots. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables are soft and the onion is lightly browned.
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Blend with Wine Return the chicken to the pot and blend with the white wine. Let the alcohol evaporate, stirring well to blend the flavors.
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Add Tomato and Potatoes Add the tomato pulp and mix well. Then, add the diced potatoes, rosemary and bay leaves. Mix everything together to distribute the ingredients evenly.
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Cooking the Stew Pour the chicken stock into the pot until all the ingredients are covered. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 45 minutes, or until the potatoes and chicken are tender. Stir occasionally and add more stock if necessary.
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Flavor Adjustment Once the chicken and vegetables are cooked through, season with salt and pepper to taste. If you prefer a thicker stew, cook for a few more minutes uncovered to reduce the liquid.
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Service The chicken stew is ready to be served! You can enjoy it hot, accompanied by a slice of crunchy bread or with a side of polenta for a complete and nutritious meal.
Tips and Variations
- Spices and Herbs: You can enhance the flavor of your stew by adding other herbs such as thyme, sage or even a pinch of chili pepper for a spicy note.
- Light Version: If you want to make this recipe lighter, you can use only chicken breast and reduce the amount of oil. Also, you can replace the potatoes with zucchini or other low-calorie vegetables.
- Storage: Chicken stew keeps well in the refrigerator for a couple of days. You can also freeze it and reheat it when needed for a quick and delicious meal.
Conclusion
Chicken stew is a simple yet flavorful dish that is perfect for any occasion. Thanks to its versatility, you can adapt it to your tastes and the seasons by adding different vegetables or varying the spices. Try this recipe and let the warmth and goodness of chicken stew conquer your palate and that of your loved ones!
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