By Naomi
Poulet Basquaise - Basque chicken - is an emblematic dish of the Basque Country, using regional piment d’Espelette (Espelette pepper*). The colors of the dish reflect the colors of the Basque flag.
*Espelette pepper, a traditional Basque pepper, is available from many specialty food stores and online retailers outside of France. You may even find it at general grocery stores that have an international foods section. If you cannot find it locally, a pinch of cayenne pepper works as a substitute.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken, about 4 pounds, cut into 8 pieces
- Salt and pepper
- Pinch of piment d’Espelette (or cayenne pepper)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 red bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 2 green bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 16 ounces canned Italian plum tomatoes
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup light chicken stock or broth
- 3 sprigs of flat parsley, finely chopped
- Rice as a side dish
Instructions
- Season the chicken all over with salt, pepper, and Espelette pepper.
- Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes. When the oil is hot, add the butter. When the butter has melted and the foam has subsided, add the chicken, skin-side down, and brown on that side only for about 5 minutes. Remove the chicken and set it aside on the plate.
- Add the peppers and onion to the pot and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for about 10 minutes, then add the tomatoes and cook until the liquid is reduced by half. Stir in the wine and scrape the pan while stirring. Cook until the wine is reduced by half, then add the water and the broth.
- Return the chicken to the pot, making sure to add all the juices from the plate. Cover the pot and simmer on low heat for about 25 minutes.
- Transfer the chicken to a platter. Crank up the heat to high and boil the sauce until it has thickened and reduced, for about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add the parsley. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve with rice pilaf.
Bon Appétit!
