Chicken with tomatoes and polenta

Delicious Chicken with Tomatoes and Polenta Recipe

Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Welcome to your kitchen! Today, I propose a savory recipe that combines the intense flavors of chicken with fresh tomatoes and creamy polenta. This chicken with tomatoes recipe is not only tasty but also easy to prepare, making it perfect for a quick dinner or a festive meal. Let's get started!

Ingredients needed

- 5 pieces of chicken thighs (preferably upper for juiciness)
- 8-10 ripe tomatoes
- 1 large head of garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 bay leaves
- 5-6 peppercorns
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- 100 ml white wine
- Meat or vegetable broth or warm water (to thin the sauce)
- 50 g butter
- Flour (to coat the thighs)

Necessary utensils

- A dry cooker skillet (or any deep skillet)
- A pot for the sauce
- A plastic bag for the flour
- A knife and a cutting board
- A spatula or wooden spoon

Preparing the chicken with tomatoes

1. Preparing the chicken thighs: Start by washing the chicken thighs well and patting them dry with paper towels. This step is essential for achieving a nice browning.

2. Seasoning the chicken: In a bowl, mix thyme, dill, salt, and pepper. This spice mix will add a special flavor to your chicken. Coat the thighs in this mixture and let them chill for 10-15 minutes. This is the perfect time to enjoy the aroma of the spices.

3. Coating with flour: Put a few tablespoons of flour in a plastic bag, add the chicken thighs, and seal the bag tightly. Shake the bag to ensure the thighs are evenly coated with flour. This will help achieve a crispy crust. Remove the thighs from the bag and shake off the excess flour.

4. Browning the chicken: In a dry cooker skillet, add the olive oil and butter and let them heat up. Place the thighs in the skillet and brown them on both sides until golden. This step is important for sealing in the juices.

5. Preparing the tomato sauce: Meanwhile, wash the tomatoes, peel them, and cut them into large pieces. Peel and finely chop the garlic. In a pot, add the tomatoes and let them boil for 10-15 minutes. Add the tomato paste, honey, chopped garlic, bay leaves, wine, and broth or warm water to achieve the desired consistency. Season with salt, pepper, dill, and sweet paprika to taste.

6. Combining the ingredients: Once the sauce is ready, add the browned chicken thighs to the pot with the sauce and let them simmer together for a few minutes. This step will allow the chicken to absorb all the delicious flavors of the tomato sauce.

Preparing the polenta

If you have time, don't hesitate to prepare creamy polenta that will perfectly accompany the chicken with tomatoes.

1. Boiling water: In a pot, bring water to a boil. The amount of water depends on how much polenta you want to prepare, but a ratio of 4 parts water to 1 part cornmeal is ideal.

2. Adding the cornmeal: When the water starts to boil, gradually add the cornmeal, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.

3. Cooking the polenta: Continue to stir until the polenta becomes creamy and pulls away from the sides of the pot. This process should take about 10-15 minutes.

4. Serving: Once the polenta is ready, you can serve it alongside the chicken with tomatoes.

Serving suggestion

For a special presentation, you can place the polenta on the plate, and on top, add the chicken thighs covered with tomato sauce. A garnish of freshly chopped parsley will add a touch of color and freshness.

Useful tips

- Sauce variations: You can experiment with different types of tomatoes, using cherry tomatoes for a sweeter note or canned tomatoes in the winter season.
- White wine: If you don't have white wine, you can use diluted white wine vinegar with water, but the taste will be different.
- Diet and calories: This recipe offers about 600 calories per serving, and chicken thighs are a good source of protein, while tomatoes provide essential vitamins like C and K.

Frequently asked questions

1. Can I use another type of meat? Yes, you can replace the chicken thighs with chicken breast, but the cooking time will be shorter.
2. What other side dishes can I use? If you don’t want polenta, toasted bread or mashed potatoes are excellent.
3. How can I store leftovers? The chicken with tomatoes can be stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers for up to 3 days.

Conclusion

This chicken with tomatoes and polenta recipe is not only simple but also full of flavors that will delight your senses! The cooking experience can be just as enjoyable as savoring the meal, so don't hesitate to get involved and enjoy every step. Whether it's a quick dinner or a special occasion, chicken with tomatoes will surely be a hit! Enjoy your meal!