Onion dish with chicken

Onion Chicken – A Home Delicacy

Who doesn’t love the enticing aroma of a dish cooked with love? Onion chicken is a traditional recipe that brings together the simple flavors of basic ingredients, transforming them into a comforting and tasty dish, perfect for family meals. This recipe not only brings well-being but is also an excellent way to enjoy a healthy meal, full of nutrients.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

- 500 g chicken (preferably thighs or breasts, depending on preference)
- 1 kg onions (choose white or yellow onions for a sweeter taste)
- 3 bell peppers (red, green, or yellow, as preferred)
- 4-5 tomatoes (or 400 g canned tomatoes)
- 6 cloves of garlic (for intense flavor)
- 100 ml red wine (optional, but recommended for a richer taste)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 bunch of dill (fresh, to add extra flavor)
- 1 bunch of parsley (fresh, for a fresh taste)
- 50 ml oil (sunflower or olive)
- 1 tablespoon seasoning (or other preferred spice)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Salt (to taste)

Step by Step:

1. Preparing the Ingredients:
Start by cleaning the chicken. Rinse the pieces of chicken under cold running water, then dry them with a paper towel. This will help achieve a crispier texture when browning. Clean the vegetables: chop the onions and garlic finely, and remove the seeds from the peppers, cutting them into cubes.

2. Browning the Chicken:
In a deep pot, heat the oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces and brown them on all sides until golden, about 5-7 minutes. This step is essential to seal in the juices, providing a more intense flavor.

3. Sautéing the Onions:
Remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside. In the same pot, add the chopped onions and sauté until they become translucent, about 5 minutes. This process will release the natural sweetness of the onions and form the base of the flavors.

4. Adding the Vegetables:
Add the diced peppers, sprinkle seasoning and pepper, and continue to sauté the mixture for 3-4 minutes until the peppers become soft. Then, add the chicken back into the pot.

5. Boiling:
Pour enough water to cover the chicken and vegetables. Let it boil for 15 minutes. This step will help develop the flavors and penetrate the chicken.

6. Adding the Tomatoes:
After 15 minutes, add the chopped tomatoes (or canned ones) and let it boil for another 10 minutes. The tomatoes will add a sweet-sour taste and a pleasant color to the dish.

7. The Wine and Garlic:
Add the red wine and finely chopped garlic. These ingredients will enhance the dish's flavor, giving it a sophisticated character. Let it boil for another 5 minutes.

8. Baking:
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Transfer the pot to the oven and let it bake for 30 minutes. This step will allow the flavors to combine and concentrate, resulting in a delicious final product.

9. Finishing and Serving:
When the dish is almost ready, add the chopped dill and parsley on top. Gently stir to distribute the greens.

Serving Suggestions:
Onion chicken is delicious served alongside warm polenta, which absorbs the rich juices from the dish. Pickles are also an excellent accompaniment, providing a pleasant contrast to the dish's sweetness.

Calories and Nutritional Benefits:
This recipe has about 350-400 calories per serving, depending on the amount of oil used and the type of meat. Chicken is an excellent source of lean protein, while onions and garlic provide antioxidant benefits, contributing to heart health. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.

Possible Variations:
- You can also add other vegetables, such as carrots or zucchini, to add more nutrients.
- Replace chicken with turkey or a vegetarian option, using mushrooms or tofu for a meatless dish.

Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can I use pork instead of chicken?
Yes, you can adapt the recipe using pork, but the cooking time will be different. Make sure the meat is well-cooked.

2. Can I use canned tomatoes?
Of course! Canned tomatoes are an excellent choice, especially in months when fresh tomatoes are out of season.

3. Is this recipe easy to adapt for diets?
Yes, you can reduce the oil and use skinless chicken to make the dish healthier.

Personal Note:
I remember the moments spent in the kitchen with my grandmother, who told me that food cooked with love is the best. This onion chicken dish is a recipe that brings back pleasant memories, and I hope it does the same for you. Don’t forget to enjoy every step of the cooking process and experiment with the ingredients!

Enjoy your meal!