Best Catalan Chicken Recipes

CATALAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat 4 TBS olive oil in a heavy pan over medium heat, then fry the chicken for about 10 minutes or until golden on all sides; remove and set aside.
• Add the onions, garlic and pepper to the pan and saute until the onion is golden.
• Add the tomatoes, sherry and saffron with water and bring to a simmer.
• Cook 10-15 minutes to evaporate excess liquid (you want to arrive at a fairly thick sauce at this stage).
• Return chicken to pan along with bay leaf, cinnamon stick, salt and pepper.
• Bring to a simmer, cover loosely and cook for about 30 minutes until the chicken is tender and completely cooked and the sauce thickened.
• To finish, heat 1 TBS oil over medium-high heat in a small skillet and fry the breadcrumbs and almonds till golden (stirring all the while); remove from heat and stir in the paprika, mixing well.
• Serve each breast with sauce and with almond mixture sprinkled over the top of all.

CATALAN CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• For the picada: Toast the nuts in a small skillet, then remove to a plate. Add the EVOO to the skillet and toast the bread slices until golden. Chop the bread and add to a food processor along with the parsley, lemon juice, garlic, toasted almonds and a splash of water. Pulse until the mixture is a pesto-like consistency. Refrigerate until ready to serve. For the stew: Heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the thyme, paprika, celery, bay leaves, carrots, onions, bell peppers, chile peppers and saffron and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables are soft, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and mash. Add the stock and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in the chicken. Stir in the picada and olives, then remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Ladle the stew into shallow bowls and serve with warm bread for mopping. Cook's Note: The stew and the picada can be refrigerated in separate containers in the refrigerator for a make-ahead meal. Reheat the stew over medium heat, adding the picada and olives.
• Put the chicken in a very large stockpot or divide between 2 pots if necessary. Add the peppercorns, garlic, bay leaves, carrots, celery, lemons, onions and herb bundle and sprinkle with salt. Add enough water to cover the chicken. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cook at a rolling simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Remove the chicken from the liquid and let cool. Strain the stock. (You should have 5 to 6 quarts stock.) Remove the skin and bones from the chicken, and shred the meat using your hands or 2 forks.

ALMOND-CRUSTED CATALAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, make marinade by mixing together the mayonnaise, garlic, orange juice, orange peel, honey, 1/8 teaspoon of the cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper.
• Add the chicken, turning to coat.
• Cover and refrigerate 1 hour, occasionally spooning marinade over chicken.
• In a pie pan, mix together the remaining cinnamon, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs, almonds and olive oil.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and roll, one piece at a time, in breadcrumb mixture.
• Place the chicken in single layer in a lightly greased shallow baking pan.
• Bake in a 350°F oven about 1 hour or until crisp and brown and fork can be inserted in chicken with ease.

CHICKEN WITH CATALAN PICADA

Steps:

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the chicken, skin side down, and cook over moderately high heat until browned, 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Add the onion to the skillet and cook over moderate heat until softened, 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook over moderately high heat until very thick, 5 minutes. Add the broth, sherry, bay leaf, orange zest and thyme and bring to a boil. Add the chicken, cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes, turning once. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°. Toast the bread and almonds on a baking sheet, about 8 minutes. In a skillet, heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of oil. Add the garlic and cook over moderate heat until golden, 3 minutes. Transfer to a food processor with the bread and almonds, the chocolate, parsley, cinnamon, saffron, aniseeds and cloves. Process to a paste. Stir the picada into the sauce and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and orange zest, season with salt and pepper and serve.

CATALAN CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbs of the oil in a large frying pan. Add the chicken and brown really well all over. Transfer to a casserole dish.
• Use the remaining oil to cook the onions in the frying pan until they turned golden at the edges. Add the pepper and garlic and cook for a further minute.
• Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and add to the chicken in the casserole dish. Brown the chorizo in the frying pan and also add this to the chicken.
• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Pour the tomatoes, broth and wine over the chicken, add the smoked paprika and saffron (if using). Add the raisins (if using), orange zest and thyme, season and mix well,.
• Add the olives and garbanzo beans, bring to the boil, then cover and cook on the middle shelf of the oven for about 40 minutes.
• Scatter with the parsley and serve with rice.

CATALAN CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• For the picada: Toast the nuts in a small skillet, then remove to a plate. Add the EVOO to the skillet and toast the bread slices until golden. Chop the bread and add to a food processor along with the parsley, lemon juice, garlic, toasted almonds and a splash of water. Pulse until the mixture is a pesto-like consistency. Refrigerate until ready to serve. For the stew: Heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the thyme, paprika, celery, bay leaves, carrots, onions, bell peppers, chile peppers and saffron and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables are soft, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and mash. Add the stock and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in the chicken. Stir in the picada and olives, then remove f

CATALAN GRILLED CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS

Steps:

• Prepare gas or charcoal grill. In small bowl, stir together cayenne pepper, cumin, cinnamon, salt and black pepper. Rub thoroughly over chicken leg quarters. Place on grill and cook, turning, until browned on all sides and beginning to firm, about 10 minutes total.
• While chicken is grilling, warm olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; saute until beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in chorizo; saute for 3 minutes more.
• Stir in tomatoes and red wine. Bring mixture to simmer and continue cooking until chicken is off the grill.
• Add chicken to pot. Stir in olives. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes.
• To serve, put a piece of chicken in each of four large, shallow bowls. Top with sauce.