Spanish Style Chicken Stew With Green Olives Food

MA'S SPANISH CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• First, heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Spread 2 tablespoons of oil evenly across the cooking surface, and brown the chicken thighs on both sides. Set the browned chicken aside on a plate.
• Add the garlic and onion to the skillet. Cook for a minute or so, and then add the celery, carrots, bell pepper, and potato. Cook for a few minutes until the carrots begin to soften. Add the seasoning packet and stir to combine.
• Add 2 bay leaves, ½ cup of Spanish green olives, chopped or whole (we like whole, but sometimes chopped adds more of a delightful relish effect to the sauce), and the entire contents of the 14-ounce can of whole (use a spatula to break them up into chunks) peeled tomatoes and the 14-ounce can of pink beans (the starch from the beans helps thicken the sauce).
• Add the chicken to the pot with the vegetables along with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, cover, and turn the heat down to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Then uncover and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes on medium high heat to reduce the sauce.
• Serve with white rice mixed with ¼ cup of olive oil, a sprinkling of 1 teaspoon of salt (or to taste), and ¼ cup chopped parsley. This stew goes great with a little hot sauce on the side--Crystal (our favorite) or Tabasco are both great options.

POLLO GUISADO OR LATIN CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• Season chicken with adobo seasoning salt.
• In a large deep skillet, pot or Dutch oven, over medium heat saute the scallions in olive oil until soft, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the garlic and 1/4 cup cilantro cook until soft, 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
• Nestle the chicken in the pot and let brown 5 minutes, turning halfway.
• Add tomato sauce, Sazon if using, 1 cup water, olive, olive brine, Bouillon, cumin and stir. Add the bay leaves and bring to a boil.
• Cover and cook 50 minutes over medium-low heat, until the chicken is tender.
• Uncover the pot, increase the heat to high and cook to thicken the sauce, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaves, adjust salt if needed and add the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.

SPANISH CHICKEN WITH RICE AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.
• Brown the chicken well on both sides; transfer to a plate.
• Add in onion, red bell pepper and dryed chili flakes; saute for 5 minutes.
• Add in garlic, paprika and rice and saute for 3 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon.
• Add in wine and bring to a boil; simmer uncovered for 3 minutes.
• Add in tomatoes with juice, chicken broth, saffron and bay leaf; simmer for about 6-7 minutes.
• Return the chicken along with any juices from the bowl or plate back to the skillet and nestle into the rice .
• Cook covered over low heat until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed (about 20-25 minutes, it might take more or less time).
• Add in the peas and olives, season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover the skillet and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

LEMON CHICKEN STEW WITH GREEN OLIVES

Steps:

• Combine flour with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Dredge chicken pieces in flour, shaking of any excess. Reserve remaining flour.
• Place 1/2 tablespoon oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown 1/2 the chicken for 2 minutes until a little golden; turning and cooking another 2 minutes. Remove chicken to plate Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Cook onions in the Dutch oven for 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute until fragrant. Stir in the remaining flour, lemon juice, chicken broth and water. Bring liquids to a boil.
• Add in the quartered potatoes, chickpeas and olives and stir. Nestle the chicken breasts bone side up into the stew. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes.
• Taste the liquid and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Turn the chicken pieces and continue to cook 5 to 10 minutes until potatoes are tender and chicken is cooked through.
• Stir in parsley and cook one minute.
• Ladle into serving bowls.
• (My nephews have asked me to note these are smaller "girly" portions so if you are serving teens or others with larger appetites, adjust the serving amounts accordingly).

SPANISH MEATBALLS WITH GREEN OLIVES

Steps:

• Trim crusts and soak bread in milk.
• Mix bread, crushed garlic, freshly grated nutmeg, finely minced parsley egg, and salt and pepper
• Add ground beef.
• Form meat into small walnut size meatballs.
• Roll meatballs in flour.
• Cut onion into rings.
• Heat olive oil in heavy pan.
• Cook meatballs until browned; remove from pan.
• Add more olive oil.
• Brown onions lightly .
• Add meatballs back to pan with the sliced stuffed green olives.
• Add wine and chicken stock.
• Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes.