Martha Stewart Chicken Cacciatore With Crisp Polenta Food

CHICKEN-AND-POLENTA PUTTANESCA MELTS

Steps:

• Preheat broiler with rack 6 inches from heating element. Season polenta and chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a large ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high; swirl in 2 tablespoons oil. Add polenta and cook, flipping once, until golden and crisp on edges, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Add chicken to skillet; cook until browned on edges and cooked through, about 2 minutes a side. Transfer to plate. Add 1 tablespoon oil, olives, capers, and garlic to skillet; cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.
• Stir marinara into skillet; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; nestle in chicken and polenta, shingling them and spooning some sauce over top. Sprinkle with cheese; broil until bubbly, 4 to 5 minutes. Top with parsley; serve.

CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• Place 1 cup flour in a large bowl. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and toss in flour to coat evenly. Transfer chicken to a platter, and set aside.
• Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the reserved chicken skin, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fat has been rendered and skin is golden brown and crisp. Discard skin. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of fat from pot. (Alternatively, if desired, use olive oil, heating until it is hot but not smoking.)
• Add half the chicken to the pot, and cook, turning occasionally with tongs, until well browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a platter; set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken. Add onion to pot; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and mushrooms; cook, stirring, until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes more. Raise heat to medium-high. Add the wine; scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Add stock, tomatoes with reserved juice, bay leaf, oregano, and rosemary to pot; stir to combine. Using tongs, return chicken to pot along with any juices that have accumulated on the platter. Submerge chicken in sauce. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook until the chicken is cooked through and very tender, about 30 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix together the butter and remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons flour to form a smooth paste. Stir half the paste into the simmering stew, and cook about 3 minutes. If the stew is still not as thick as desired, stir in the remaining paste, and cook 3 minutes more. Remove and discard bay leaf; serve stew hot over warm polenta. Stew can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen up to 1 month in an airtight container. Cool completely before storing.

CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• Reserve chicken wings for another use. Remove skin from chicken; halve breasts crosswise; you will have 6 pieces of dark meat and 6 pieces of light meat.
• Heat a deep 10-inch skillet or 6-quart Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add half the chicken pieces; cook until browned, about 8 minutes, turning once. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining chicken.
• In same pan, heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Add mushrooms; cook on medium-high, stirring, until softened and browned, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil to pan; add onions, peppers, and garlic; cook on medium-high, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 4 minutes. Pour in wine; bring to a boil. Cook until almost evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and broth; return chicken to pan. Simmer, turning occasionally, until meat is tender and sauce is thickened, about 1 hour. Stir in mushrooms. Cook linguine in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain; serve with chicken and sauce. Garnish with basil or parsley if desired.

COMFORTING CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Place bell pepper directly over the flame of a gas-stove burner on high heat or on a grill. Roast peppers, turning with tongs, until blackened all over. (Alternatively, broil peppers on a baking sheet, turning, until skin has charred.) Transfer peppers to a large bowl and cover immediately with plastic wrap. Set aside to steam, about 15 minutes. Peel peppers; discard skins. Remove stems, seeds, and ribs, and cut each pepper lengthwise into 1/2-inch strips; set aside.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chicken and cook, turning, until golden brown on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a large plate or baking sheet; set aside.
• Add remaining tablespoon oil to Dutch oven and add mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes; add onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in flour until well combined. Add wine and let simmer for 1 minute. Stir in chicken stock, crushed tomatoes, roasted pepper strips, and olives.
• Return chicken to Dutch oven; transfer to oven. Cook chicken in oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and stir in capers, vinegar, and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Serve.

CHICKEN CACCIATORE WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk water and cornmeal; microwave, covered, on high for 6 minutes. Stir; cook, covered, 5-7 minutes longer or until polenta is thickened, stirring every 2 minutes. Stir in cheese and salt., Meanwhile, sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon., Add onion to the same pan; cook and stir 2-4 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Return chicken to pan; stir in tomatoes and olives. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Serve with polenta. Freeze option: Do not prepare polenta until later. Freeze cooled chicken mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Prepare polenta as directed. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, reheat chicken, stirring occasionally; add a little water if necessary. Serve with polenta.

CRISPY POLENTA

Steps:

• Brush a small rimmed baking sheet with olive oil; set aside. In a large pot, bring 6 cups water to a boil over high heat; season with salt. Slowly whisk in polenta, and cook, partially covered, and stirring every 4 to 5 minutes, over medium-low heat until it begins to thicken, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Carefully pour polenta onto prepared baking sheet, spreading it out to an even thickness. Let cool, and tear into 1-inch pieces; lightly dust with flour.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels; set aside. Meanwhile, heat sunflower oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot until it registers 350 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Using a slotted spoon, carefully add polenta in batches while maintaining the temperature of the oil. Cook until crispy, about 4 minutes. Transfer to prepared baking sheet to drain. Serve immediately seasoned with sea salt.

CHICKEN CACCIATORE AND POLENTA

Steps:

• In cooker, heat olive oil then chicken, brown for approximately 5 minutes, then add rest of ingredients. Close the lid and bring to pressure, lower heat and cook for the suggested time. My pressure cooker says on position 1, 21 minutes. On position 2, 12 minutes. Release the pressure and remove the lid.
• If you are not using a pressure cooker then simmer for approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours. (Watch your amount of fluids and add broth as needed).
• Serve over polenta (follow the directions on the polenta package). Enjoy!