Hunter’s chicken

Hunter’s chicken is an Italian tomato stew also known as chicken cacciatore. It’s a pub classic that’s very easy to make at home.

Ingredients

• 75g/2¾oz plain flour
• 1 x 1.5kg/3lb 5oz chicken, jointed into 8 pieces
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 brown onions, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 30g/1oz tomato purée
• 800g/1lb 12oz ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 100ml/3½fl oz white wine
• 150ml/5fl oz chicken stock
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• handful fresh parsley leaves
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

To serve

• roasted, mashed or boiled potatoes

Method

1. Season the flour with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then dredge the chicken pieces in it.

2. Heat the oil in a casserole or large heavy based saucepan over a medium heat, then fry the chicken for 2–3 minutes on each side, until brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.

3. In the same casserole, fry the onion and garlic for 8–10 minutes over a low heat, until softened. Add the tomato purée and cook for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, rosemary, bay leaf, wine, stock and vinegar and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

4. Return the chicken pieces to the casserole and cover with a lid. Simmer over a low heat for 30–40 minutes, or until the chicken is tender.

5. To serve, remove the lid and sprinkle with parsley leaves. Spoon out onto plates and serve with roasted, mashed or boiled potatoes.

Hunter’s chicken