Polo Alla Cacciatora
Description
This classic Italian dish, known as Chicken Cacciatore, offers a comforting and aromatic meal that brings the warmth of a country kitchen to your table. The chicken is browned to perfection and then slowly simmered in a rich sauce of dry wine, coarsely chopped tomatoes, and aromatic vegetables like onions, carrots, celery, and green peppers. The result is tender meat infused with deep, savory flavors and a robust texture from the garden-fresh ingredients. Perfect for a cozy family dinner or a rustic gathering, this recipe highlights simple, high-quality components working in harmony. It pairs beautifully with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce or over creamy polenta.Ingredients
Directions
-
Cut the chicken into 4 to 6 pieces per serving if not already cut.
-
Dredge the chicken pieces in flour mixed with salt and pepper, shaking off any excess flour.
-
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
-
Brown the chicken pieces on both sides until golden, then transfer to a warm platter.
-
Pour off most of the fat from the skillet, leaving a small amount for flavor.
-
Add dry wine (such as Marsala) to the hot skillet and boil rapidly until reduced by half, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
-
Reduce heat to medium and add the thinly sliced yellow onion, cooking for 5 minutes until softened.
-
Return the chicken pieces to the skillet, excluding the breasts for now.
-
Add the sliced green pepper, carrot, celery, chopped garlic, and canned Italian tomatoes with their juices.
-
Bring to a simmer, cover the skillet, and cook for 10 minutes.
-
Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and continue to simmer covered until the chicken is tender, about 30 minutes.
-
Turn and baste the chicken pieces a few times while cooking to ensure even flavoring.
-
Transfer the cooked chicken to a serving platter.
-
If the sauce is too thin, boil it briskly in the skillet until it thickens to your desired consistency.
-
Pour the rich vegetable and tomato sauce over the chicken and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 5
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 813.8kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 40.9g63%
- Saturated Fat 11.2g56%
- Cholesterol 303.0mg101%
- Sodium 279.2mg12%
- Total Carbohydrate 0.0g0%
- Dietary Fiber 0.0g0%
- Sugars 0.0g
- Protein 91.9g184%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
Original attribution: Marcella Hazan's "The Classic Italian Cookbook".
Ingredient substitutions: If Marsala wine is unavailable, use a dry white wine or dry red wine. For a non-alcoholic version, substitute with chicken broth.
Storage: This dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove.
Tip: Ensure the chicken is fully coated in flour to help thicken the sauce and create a golden crust when browning. Do not overcrowd the skillet when browning; work in batches if necessary.