Delia Smith is a renowned British chef and cookbook author. She has been a household name in the UK for decades, known for her practical and reliable recipes. One of her most popular dishes is the chicken Basque. This dish is a hearty and flavorful chicken casserole that is perfect for family dinners or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
The ingredients for Delia Smith's chicken Basque are:
- 1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
- 3 red peppers, sliced
- 2 onions, sliced
- 4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1 can of chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup of chicken stock
- 1/2 cup of dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil for cooking
Instructions
Here are the steps to make Delia Smith's chicken Basque:
- Preheat the oven to 375??F (190??C).
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Heat some olive oil in a large oven-safe casserole dish over medium-high heat.
- Brown the chicken pieces in the casserole dish, in batches if necessary. Remove the chicken from the dish and set aside.
- Add the sliced onions to the same casserole dish and saut?? until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the sliced red peppers and garlic to the casserole dish and saut?? for another 5 minutes.
- Add the can of chopped tomatoes, chicken stock, white wine, tomato paste, smoked paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, and bay leaves to the casserole dish. Stir to combine.
- Return the chicken pieces to the casserole dish, making sure they are fully submerged in the sauce.
- Cover the casserole dish with a lid or aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 1 hour.
- Remove the lid or foil and bake for another 30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
- Remove the bay leaves before serving.
Variations
There are many variations of chicken Basque, and you can customize Delia Smith's recipe to suit your taste. Here are some ideas:
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of a whole chicken.
- Add some sliced chorizo or cooked bacon to the sauce for extra flavor.
- Use different types of peppers, such as yellow or orange, or a combination of colors.
- Add some diced potatoes or carrots to the sauce to make it more hearty.
- Use different herbs, such as rosemary or basil, instead of oregano and thyme.
Conclusion
Delia Smith's chicken Basque is a classic dish that is easy to make and full of flavor. The combination of chicken, peppers, and tomatoes in a rich and savory sauce is sure to please everyone at the dinner table. Try this recipe for your next family dinner or dinner party, and impress your guests with your culinary skills!
