Chicken Catchadora(ble guy)
By: Jill Mant for S...
Published: Sunday, January 8, 2012 - 3:00pm

Ingredients




Ingredients:
4 slices of Bacon, cut into a julienne and then cut again into thirds
1 Red Pepper, chopped
1 small, sweet Vidalia Onion, chopped
2 cloves Garlic, chopped
½ lb. White Mushrooms, quartered
1/3 cup Flour, for dredge
5 Tbsp Smoked Paprika, divided into 2 and 3 Tbsp
2 Tbsp fresh Basil, chopped
1 whole chicken, cut up
¾ cup Dry Vermouth
1 28 oz. can Diced Tomatoes
S&P

Preparation

1 Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook Bacon, stirring until it crisps. 2 While the bacon is cooking prepare the dredge, mixing the flour with 2 Tbsp Smoked Paprika. Dredge the chicken in the flour, shaking off any excess. 3 Once the bacon has cooked and the skillet is covered in a film of bacon fat add the chopped Garlic, Onion and Peppers. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, and then add the Chicken pieces. 4 Brown the chicken on all sides. This will take up to 10 minutes. You will need to continue to stir up the vegetables and bacon so that they do not burn. As the chicken begins to brown add the mushrooms and basil (about 3 minutes before your chicken is all browned). 5 Add Vermouth, Tomatoes and additional Smoked Paprika to the skillet. Stir, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for about 30-40 minutes. Season with Salt and freshly ground Pepper to taste. 6 Serve over cooked noodles with a simple green salad.

About

Yesterday Margo, my partner at SaucyCooks, came over with bird in hand and announced that she had a craving for Chicken Cacciatore. It appears that this dish rates as comfort food for both her and the cutie patootie she is dating. This being Friday for Margo and Paul it was also date night, so into the kitchen we went to prepare her dinner.
The first thing we discovered was that the name Chicken Cacciatore brought up different interpretations for each of us. I recall this dish being a hunter’s stew full of chicken, mushrooms, onions and pepper floating in a rich tomato base and seasoned with aromatic smoked paprika and bacon. Her version contained capers and olivesand did not include bacon, mushrooms or smoked paprika. After much discussion we decided to try it my way and I was delighted to receive her phone call that evening confirming that it was a winner. Her boyfriend concurred with her that this was not the Chicken Cacciatore he remembered from childhood, but he is coming back today! Apparently hunter’s chicken catches the (adora-ble) man!