Chicken Basque Recipes

BASQUE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place flour in a shallow dish. Dip chicken into flour to coat. In a large skillet cook chicken in hot oil over medium-high heat about 4 minutes or until chicken is browned, turning once. Remove chicken.
• Add sweet peppers, onion and garlic to skillet. Cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are nearly tender. Add paprika and cayenne pepper. Cook and stir for 1 minute more.
• Stir in undrained tomatoes, broth and olives (this is where I add about 1/8 cup wine). Bring to boiling. Return chicken to skillet, spooning tomato mixture over chicken. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 10 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink.
• Transfer chicken to a serving platter. Stir snipped oregano into tomato mixture. Spoon tomato mixture over chicken. If desired, garnish with some oregano leaves.

CHICKEN BISQUE

Steps:

• In a soup kettle or Dutch oven, combine the first eight ingredients; bring to a gentle boil. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Gradually add to boiling soup, stirring constantly until smooth. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

CHICKEN BASQUE

Steps:

• Joint chicken and season well ( you can use just chicken breasts if you feel flush ).
• Cut the onion and red pepper ( remove pith etc.) into strips the same size.
• Drain / dry and cut sun dried tomatoes into 1cm pieces.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a flameproof casserole dish ( with lid ). Add the chicken and brown all over. Take out and drain on kitchen paper.
• Add onions and peppers and brown - about 5 minutes.( More oil may be needed.).
• Add chopped garlic chorizo and sun dried tomatoes. Cook for about 1 minute until garlic is golden and the meat has changed colour slightly.
• Add rice - stir until grains have been coated in the oil.
• Add the stock, wine, tomato puree and cayenne pepper.
• Heat until a gentle simmer is achieved. Place chicken pieces on the top ( the rice should be submerged in the liquid.), sprinkle on the herbs and scatter the olives and orange wedges. Cover and cook on the gentlest possible heat for 50-60 minutes - or until the rice is cooked through.
• This meal can be prepared in advance up to Stage 9.

CHICKEN BASQUE STYLE

Steps:

• Cut the bell peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds.Grill or broil,skin side toward the flame (or heating element),until the skin is bubbly (about 15 minutes in an electric oven).
• While the peppers are broiling,prepare the onion and garlic.Place 1/3 of the fat in a large frying pan and melt it over medium heat. Add the pork belly and cook for a few minutes to release some of the fat. Add the onion and 3 cloves of the garlic.Cook,stirring occasionally,until translucent,about 10 minutes.
• Remove the peppers from the oven or grill and place in a paper bag for a few minutes.When the peppers have cooled slightly,remove the skin.Coarsely chop the peppers (there should be about 2 1/2 cups).
• Add the bell peppers and the hot peppers to the onions and garlic.Increase the heat and allow the mixture to color slightly.Add the tomatoes. Continue cooking over high heat for about 5 minutes,or until the tomatoes have collapsed.Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook,partially covered and stirring occasionally,for 40 minutes.
• Twenty minutes before the vegetables are done,season the chicken with salt and pepper.Place the remaining fat in a large,straight-sided frying pan,a wide-mouthed stock pot or braiser.Melt the fat over medium-high heat.Add the chicken pieces,two cloves of garlic,bay leaves and thyme.Brown the chicken on all sides,working in two batches if necessary,so there is no trace of red.
• Return all of the chicken to the pot and add the vegetable mixture. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and cook at a low simmer for 30 minutes.