Chicken in Tomato Sauce

This is a simple traditional family dinner of ours which my Nonna used to make, although the cooking time seems long the preparation time is not, it’s just a matter of giving it a little stir every 20 minutes or so.

With regards to the chicken, I prefer dark meat but breast works well too.  If using all breast then I would suggest reducing the simmering time to around 35 minutes.

Serves 2

Preparation time: 15 mins

Cooking time: 1 hour 15 minutes

3 chicken pieces (breast, thigh or drum, skin on preferably)                                               

1 medium onion

1 clove garlic

1 carton passata or creamed tomatoes (500g)

Few basil leaves

Salt & pepper

1 tsp sugar

1 tbsp olive oil

Pasta

Parmesan

Start with the chicken, heat a little olive oil in a medium sized pot and add your chicken pieces, let them gently sear on the outside over a medium heat.  You don’t need golden colour just so that the chicken starts to turn white.  In the meantime chop you onions, a medium dice is fine.  Add the onions in and around the chicken pieces stirring and getting them to bottom.  While your onions are softening chop or crush your garlic and keep aside for the moment.

After about 5-7 minutes your chicken should be white on the outside, the onions will have softened and you can add the garlic.

After two minutes or so the rawness will be out of the garlic so add your carton of tomatoes, turn the heat to low.   Add in a few grinds of pepper and half a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of sugar and a few basil leaves torn roughly.   Once it starts to bubble gently you can give it a quick stir and then leave it, lid on to slowly cook.  Simmer for one hour (or less if using all breast)

If serving with pasta, boil your favourite type as normal in plenty of salted water.

To serve, take a large spoon of the tomato sauce and add it into the pasta pot with the drained pasta and coat the pasta well adding more sauce if needed.  Traditionally you would eat the pasta with the sauce as a first course followed by the chicken with some salad and crusty bread but quite often we eat the pasta and chicken at the same time.