Grandma's Chicken Cacciatore
This Real Estate Chef knows the ins and outs of a kitchen just as well as he knows how to help his clients find their dream homes.
INGREDIENTS :
• 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
• 8 cloves garlic, chopped
• 4 bell peppers, sliced
• 2 medium onions, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 celery stalks, sliced into 1-in. pieces
• 16 oz. baby bella mushrooms, roughly chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 4 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 12 fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1 cup of chicken stock
• 1 cup of dry red wine
• 15-oz. can crushed tomatoes
• 28-oz. can plum tomatoes, diced
• 3 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
• Grated cheese
DIRECTIONS:
• Heat 1/2 cup of olive oil in a saucepan on medium. Add the chopped peppers, onions, celery, and mushrooms and stir until vegetables just barely soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add garlic, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes, rosemary, thyme and basil and stir. Stir in the stock, red wine, crushed and diced tomatoes, and chicken. Simmer on low for about 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• When ready to serve, spoon the chicken onto a bowl of your favorite pasta or rice, top with vegetables and sauce, and finish with your favorite grated cheese. Mangia, mangia!!!
Tony Immediato has fond memories of Sunday dinners at his grandparents' home, where this Chicken Cacciatore dish was a fall favorite. "Walking in the front door, you'd be greeted by the overwhelming aroma of garlic and tomatoes," he recalls. "I immediately wanted to grab a piece of bread and dip it into the sauce!" That enthusiasm was often met by an admonishment from his grandmother to wait until everyone was seated. Gathering around that table was a major part of Tony's upbringing, and he cherishes the laughter and joy of family dinners to this day. And the Chicken Cacciatore was always worth the wait.
Pollo alla Cacciatora, or "hunter-style chicken," can be served over pasta (like Tony's favorite pappardelle), rice, spaghetti squash or by itself. Substitute chicken with cauliflower for a vegetarian version, or cook the recipe in a crockpot on busy days. Make it the next time you greet family and friends around your table.
Tony Immediato
“The Real Estate Chef”
Real Estate Salesperson
tony.immediato@compass.com
M 302.218.7947 | O 302.202.9855
IG: @tony_the_real_estate_chef_