Catalan Chicken Stew Recipes

SPANISH CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat 1 tbsp of the oil. Season the chicken and brown on both sides for 7-8 mins until golden, then set aside on a plate. Put the remaining 1 tbsp oil in the pan with the pepper, onion and garlic. Fry on a medium heat for 8 mins or until slightly golden. Add the vinegar and cook for 1 min.
• Return the chicken to the pan with the paprika and stock. Bring to the boil, then turn down to simmer for 25 mins until the chicken is cooked through. Add the olives and almonds, and serve with rice or crusty bread.

CATALAN CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbs of the oil in a large frying pan. Add the chicken and brown really well all over. Transfer to a casserole dish.
• Use the remaining oil to cook the onions in the frying pan until they turned golden at the edges. Add the pepper and garlic and cook for a further minute.
• Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and add to the chicken in the casserole dish. Brown the chorizo in the frying pan and also add this to the chicken.
• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Pour the tomatoes, broth and wine over the chicken, add the smoked paprika and saffron (if using). Add the raisins (if using), orange zest and thyme, season and mix well,.
• Add the olives and garbanzo beans, bring to the boil, then cover and cook on the middle shelf of the oven for about 40 minutes.
• Scatter with the parsley and serve with rice.

CATALAN CHICKPEA AND SAUSAGE STEW

Steps:

• Combine the drained chickpeas with enough water to cover by 2 inches in a large soup pot or Dutch oven, add the bay leaf, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and skim off any foam. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add salt to taste (about a tablespoon), and simmer for another hour, until tender. Drain over a bowl and retain 2 cups of the cooking liquid. Set aside.
• While the beans are cooking, heat a large, heavy casserole over medium-high heat and when it is hot, add the sausages. Brown the sausages on all sides and remove from the heat. Slice and set aside.
• Add the olive oil to the pan, turn the heat down to medium, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, and add the diced pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onion and pepper are tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic, stir together for a minute or two, until fragrant, and stir in the tomatoes, sliced sausage, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring often over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly. Add the chickpeas, dried cayenne or chili flakes, and the 2 cups of their liquid that you set aside. Bring back to a simmer, stir together, turn the heat to very low, cover and cook gently for 30 minutes to 1 hour, until the beans are very tender and the broth fragrant. Taste, adjust seasonings, and serve.

BULLINADA (CATALAN FISH STEW WITH AIOLI)

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium. Add onions, stirring occasionally, and cook until they begin to soften, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant and lightly golden, 1 minute.
• Stir in saffron, and pour in fish stock and wine. Add potatoes, fennel seeds, orange peel, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 25 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
• Season fish with salt and pepper. Remove orange peels from soup and add fish. Cook, covered, over medium-low heat until fish is opaque and flaky, 4 to 14 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. Using a metal spatula or knife, break the fish into chunks.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, remaining garlic and Aleppo pepper. Slowly stir in a ladle of hot stock into mayonnaise mixture. Gently stir mayonnaise mixture into simmering soup. Heat through, without reaching a boil (the mayonnaise will curdle). Stir in parsley and taste, adding more salt if you'd like. When serving, garnish with more parsley and Aleppo.

CATALAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat 4 TBS olive oil in a heavy pan over medium heat, then fry the chicken for about 10 minutes or until golden on all sides; remove and set aside.
• Add the onions, garlic and pepper to the pan and saute until the onion is golden.
• Add the tomatoes, sherry and saffron with water and bring to a simmer.
• Cook 10-15 minutes to evaporate excess liquid (you want to arrive at a fairly thick sauce at this stage).
• Return chicken to pan along with bay leaf, cinnamon stick, salt and pepper.
• Bring to a simmer, cover loosely and cook for about 30 minutes until the chicken is tender and completely cooked and the sauce thickened.
• To finish, heat 1 TBS oil over medium-high heat in a small skillet and fry the breadcrumbs and almonds till golden (stirring all the while); remove from heat and stir in the paprika, mixing well.
• Serve each breast with sauce and with almond mixture sprinkled over the top of all.