Chicken basquaise
There are many versions of this fabulous Mediterranean dish of chicken, peppers, olives and rice. This one - with its paprika and chorizo - is happily influenced by the Basque country of northern Spain. It's a beautifully melting, hearty, yet not heavy one-pot supper that makes me very content.
Servs 4
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas mark 4. Have the chicken joints ready to cook. Heat the butter and 3 tbsp olive oil in a flameproof casserole or large frying pan. Brown the chicken pieces in batches on both sides, seasoning them with salt and pepper as you go. Don't crowd the pan - fry the chicken in small batches, removing the pieces to kitchen paper as they are done.
Add a little more olive oil to the casserole and fry the onions over a medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned. Add the rest of the oil, then the peppers and cook for another 5 minutes.
Add the chorizo, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the rice, stirring to ensure it is well coated in the oil. Stir in the tomato paste, paprika, bay leaves and chopped thyme. Pour in the stock and wine. When the liquid starts to bubble, turn the heat down to a gentle simmer. Press the rice down into the liquid if it isn't already submerged and place the chicken on top. Add the lemon wedges and olives around the chicken.
Cover and cook in the oven for 50 minutes. The rice should be cooked but still have some bite, and the chicken should have juices that run clear when pierced in the thickest part with a knife. If not, cook for another 5 minutes and check again.
Ingredients
- 1 chicken, about 1.6kg, jointed into 8 pieces
- 25g butter
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 2 red onions, peeled and sliced
- 3 large red peppers, quartered lengthways, cored and deseeded
- 130g cooking chorizo sausage, skinned and cut into 5mm slices
- 8 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
- 6 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
- 300g basmati rice
- A good squeeze of tomato paste
- ½ tsp hot paprika
- 4 bay leaves
- A handful of thyme, leaves chopped
- 350ml chicken stock
- 180ml dry white (or red) wine
- 2 lemons, cut into wedges
- 100g black olives
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
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Four Days at River Cottage
The ultimate in rural retreats, our four-day cookery course is a celebration of meat, fish, veg, baking and all things delicious.
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