How to Cook Chicken Cacciatore (Pollo alla Cacciatora)

Serve over pasta for a delicious dinner.

Cacciatore means "hunter." This dish is rustic and tasty, but also a healthy way to cook chicken the same way hunter would cook their game. The more herbs and flavors you add, the better. The recipe calls for wine, which is easily replaced by chicken stock if you're concerned about the alcohol not cooking off sufficiently during this quick cooking process. While the alcohol does cook off somewhat, the amount cooked off varies by the heat level and length of time the chicken cooks.

Things You'll Need

• 4 chicken breasts, or 6 chicken thighs
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 medium onion
• 2 carrots
• 1 stalk of celery
• Rosemary (optional)
• Sage (optional)
• Thyme (optional)
• Olive oil
• 2 cups of vegetable or chicken stock
• 3/4 cup of white wine (optional)
• Salt and pepper
• Large pan

Instructions

1. Chop the onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Place a large pan over medium heat and cover the bottom with olive oil. Sauté the mix in the pot until slightly brown.

2. Skin the chicken pieces, if necessary, and add to the pan. Add salt and pepper and, if you like, some chopped herbs, such as rosemary, sage or thyme, or a combination of these herbs. Brown the chicken on all the sides, about four minutes each side.

3. Add the white wine to the pot. Let the pot cook without a cover to allow the alcohol to evaporate as much as possible. Stir the chicken in the sauce so that it can absorb the flavor. If you are not using white wine, skip this step.

4. Add the vegetable or chicken stock. Cover the pot and let it cook, lowering the flame to low, for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced.

5. Taste and correct as needed with salt and pepper. Serve warm, with a side of pan-roasted potatoes with herbs, steamed spinach and carrots.

Tips & Warnings

• Add sliced mushroom, peas and even a few cherry tomatoes for a delicious alternative.

• Use the same wine you cook with to accompany your meal, but make sure it's chilled.

• When using wine in cooking, the alcohol evaporates completely, so this is a dish that also kids and no-alcohol people can have. It just adds to the flavor.

References

• DisneyFamily.com: Ask Chef Mom: Does Alcohol Burn Off During Cooking?