Searching for a scrumptious Italian meal to feed the household? Give this rooster cacciatore recipe a attempt! Simply sear some thigh items till golden brown, after which braise them in a country tomato sauce. For a whole dinner, serve with tender pasta, rice, sauteed greens, or a contemporary salad.

Desk of Contents

1. Thighs vs. breasts
2. Searing provides extra flavors
3. Saute the greens and aromatics
4. Make a tomato sauce
5. Wine choice
6. Capers add a pop of taste
7. Braising within the oven
8. Braising on the stovetop
9. What to serve this with
10. Hen Cacciatore Recipe

Hen cacciatore is a basic Italian dish ready hunter-style utilizing contemporary greens and darkish meat that simmer in flavorful tomato sauce. The strong thigh items are perfect for braising till delicate and having fun with when the meat is virtually falling off the bone. The pure acidity within the tomatoes helps to tenderize the proteins shortly.

For max taste, sear the bone-in rooster thighs till the pores and skin is crispy, then end with a delicate cooking methodology. Merely submerge the meat underneath the sauce, cowl it, and place it within the oven. This course of permits the flavors to distribute and infuse collectively. It’s a hearty meal that I prefer to serve with pasta and a pleasant bottle of wine.

Thighs vs. breasts

The very best lower for braising is bone-in rooster thighs. There’s extra connective tissue and fats all through, which creates a barrier that stops moisture loss. The braising liquid helps to rework the collagen into wealthy gelatin, softening the meat and making the sauce richer. 

The bone itself is stuffed with taste and provides the sauce extra depth. You can even add drumsticks should you like along with the thighs. Nothing is stopping you from utilizing rooster breast. Though it lacks barely in taste, it’ll cook dinner a lot faster.

Searing provides extra flavors

Hen thighs have numerous fats, so trim off the surplus parts. In any other case, the meal might be too greasy. I want to maintain the pores and skin on as searing it provides extra taste to the dish. Cook dinner each side whereas rendering the fats into the pan. Save just a few tablespoons of the fats for sauteing the greens. It’s scrumptious!

Saute the greens and aromatics

The bottom of a standard cacciatore recipe contains minced garlic, onions, bell peppers, and herbs. I saute the aromatics and dried Italian seasoning within the rooster fats, which helps draw out the fat-soluble flavors within the oregano, basil, marjoram, rosemary, and thyme.

The chopped pink and inexperienced peppers briefly cook dinner till crisp-tender to provide a pleasant little bit of texture. In the event you like a spicier sauce, I like to recommend including ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon of pink pepper flakes when sauteeing the herbs.

Make a tomato sauce

I take advantage of three canned tomato merchandise for a fast sauce with a balanced candy and acidic fruit taste; paste, crushed, and diced. Tomato paste is concentrated in style, including a touch of sweetness and helps to thicken the sauce. Crushed tomatoes are extra pureed in texture. Some manufacturers have a chunkier model, making a stirrable base. 

I prefer to have extra vital items of tomatoes for a country look and bursts of taste. Diced tomatoes do the trick. Stir all of the tomato merchandise into the greens, together with wine, rooster broth, and capers. I add the mushrooms final as a result of they shrink down throughout braising.

Wine choice

Including in ½ cup of dry white wine provides a contact of acidity and brightness to the braise. A buttery chardonnay or citrusy pinot grigio works properly. If you need a extra spicy oaky and tannic style, use a dry pink wine like Chianti or pinot noir. Deeper in taste however nonetheless mild in comparison with extra full-bodied wines like cabernet sauvignon.

Capers add a pop of taste

Capers add a salty and tangy style to the tomato sauce. These small little spheres are filled with intense taste, so that you don’t want loads. After infusing with the braising liquid, they’ve a salty and vinegary style when bitten.

In the event you don’t like capers, olives make a wonderful substitute like kalamata, inexperienced or black. Add two tablespoons of sliced olives and some entire ones for garnish.

Braising within the oven

After making the tomato sauce, add the rooster again to the pan. I like to make use of a heavy dutch oven or braiser to do the job. Submerge the items in order that they’ll completely cook dinner within the sauce. 

Briefly simmer the pot to lift the temperature of the sauce, so it isn’t chilly. A 350-degree oven affords a constant surroundings for mild braising. Cowl the pan and cook dinner till the rooster is tender. This course of will take about an hour.

Braising on the stovetop

Alternatively, you possibly can braise the rooster on the stovetop. Nevertheless, it requires somewhat extra oversight. The burners create scorching spots within the pan, making heating much less constant. Simply ensure to observe and stir the sauce each 10 minutes to redistribute the warmth. Maintain the burner on a low simmer, as it’ll warmth shortly within the enclosed pot.

What to serve this with