Earlier than making this dish, traditional tomato-based hen cacciatore by no means actually registered on my radar. And if I have been on some type of culinary Jeopardy, I’m undecided I may even inform you the elements within the dish past hen and, perhaps, tomatoes.
So, I approached this pared-down hen cacciatore recipe with out preconceived notions. And, boy, am I certain glad I did. As a result of this blew away The One and me. Really. We didn’t count on the hen to be so falling-apart tender, to have a zing of acid from the vinegar and bass notes of umami from the anchovies. (Which, by the way in which, are an absolute should. Don’t skimp, or I’ll hunt you down….)
We loved this lighter, cleaner model of cacciatore a lot that we made it twice in a single week. And we agreed that it deserves a spot in our entertaining menu rotation.
It’s a cinch to make (with elements you in all probability have in your fridge and pantry), and takes all of 90 minutes (principally hands-off time), which supplies you time to whip up a salad or aspect dish. Or, even higher, to place up your ft and knock again a cocktail or three.
Buon appetito!
Why Our Testers Liked This
The testers adored the tender, fall-off-the-bone hen this recipe produced and liked that it made for a “delicious, straightforward dinner” with minimal effort.
Notes on Elements
- Hen–You may have your butcher break down a complete hen into 8 items, or you can also make this with a mixture of bone-in hen thighs, drumsticks, and halved bone-in hen breasts.
- Lard or olive oil—Prior to now, it was extra economical to prepare dinner with lard (pork fats) relatively than costly olive oil. Lard has a better smoke level than olive oil and imparts a delicate taste to recipes. Both works right here, however I urge you to make use of lard.
- White wine—For finest outcomes, use a dry white wine, similar to Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Candy wines will alter the flavour of the dish.
Step-by-Step Directions
- Season the hen items throughout with salt and pepper. Warmth the lard or oil in a big skillet or braising dish, then add the garlic and rosemary. Let prepare dinner till aromatic, then take away from the oil and put aside.
- Fry the hen within the oil, turning often, till golden brown throughout.
- Pour within the vinegar and wine and convey to a boil. Let it scale back for a couple of minutes.
- Add the anchovies and return the garlic and rosemary to the pan. Cowl and simmer till the hen is tender and pulls away from the bone.
Widespread Questions
The place does the naming conference cacciatore, which in Italy is extra historically known as “alla cacciatora,” come from? The authors clarify that “cacciatora” means ‘hunter’s spouse,’ and in occasions previous, she would’ve needed to rustle up a effervescent scorching pot from something her hunter hubby dragged dwelling from a hunt.
Through the years, it grew to become a moniker for a stew of combined meats, often cooked with tomatoes, wine, and herbs. This dish in all probability dates all the way in which again to historic Rome, when tomatoes hadn’t been introduced ashore from South America, and meals have been usually flavored with herbs, vinegar, and a touch of garum, the pungent anchovy sauce.
The hunter’s catch may very well be rabbit, hen, lamb, guinea fowl (which has a lot taste), and even meaty fish similar to swordfish or monkfish. There you’ve gotten it. Excellent chit-chat to your subsequent ceremonial dinner the place this spectacular but straightforward recipe is the centerpiece.
I like to recommend sticking with bone-in hen items when braising. The bones assist to maintain the meat tender and add taste to the dish, and, consequently, you’re much less more likely to have dry, overcooked hen.
Professional Suggestions
- Use a skillet, Dutch oven, or braiser large enough to carry all the hen comfortably.
- Don’t crowd the pan when frying the hen items, and work in batches, if obligatory.
- This recipe is appropriate for gluten-free and dairy-free diets.
Storage and Reheating
You may retailer the cooked hen cacciatore in a sealed container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Reheat in a braiser, skillet, or Dutch oven on the stovetop over low warmth till warmed by means of.
What to Serve With This Recipe
I recommend serving this traditional Italian hen recipe with some creamy polenta and a few blanched spinach or charred greens. This time round, I charred some contemporary rainbow Swiss chard. It had simply the correct quantity of bitterness to stability the dish.
Extra Excellent Braised Hen Recipes
Write a Overview
Should you make this recipe, or any dish on LC, take into account leaving a overview, a star ranking, and your finest picture within the feedback under. I like listening to from you.–David
I had the same dish whereas in Rome, and it modified my life. I’ve been looking for a Roman cacciatore recipe ever since.
That is very shut, though the one in Rome had an assortment of olives. Positively a unbelievable dish and actual proof of Rome’s historic secret weapon–the anchovy.
Vincent
- Don’t crowd the hen–Use a skillet, Dutch oven, or braiser large enough to carry the hen items comfortably. When frying the hen, don’t crowd the pan and work in batches, if obligatory.
- Dietary–This recipe is appropriate for gluten-free and dairy-free diets.
Serving: 1 portionEnergy: 236 kcalCarbohydrates: 1 gProtein: 14 gFats: 18 gSaturated Fats: 6 gMonounsaturated Fats: 8 gTrans Fats: 0.1 gLdl cholesterol: 63 mgSodium: 157 mgFiber: 0.02 gSugar: 0.2 g
Diet data is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
Recipe © 2015 Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi. Pictures © 2024 David Leite. All rights reserved.
Recipe Testers’ Evaluations
This model of hen cacciatore with out tomatoes has actually gained me over. What I liked about this model was the austere therapy.
I attempted this with guinea legs and thighs and once more with simply bone-in, skin-on hen thighs. I feel it’s simpler to show the smaller items within the pan for the browning, which you need to be very thorough, as that is the one time they’ll be capable to decide up coloration. I additionally made certain that when completed browning, the pores and skin aspect was dealing with up in order that they’d retain as a lot crispness as doable.
Use your finest anchovies and very nice vinegar and wine. Subsequent time, I’ll additionally make a pleasant batch of primary polenta.
Scrumptious hen and beautiful pan juices with out a lot fuss. This recipe produced a delicious, straightforward weekend dinner for us. I made a decision to make use of hen drumsticks to make it even easier to arrange and extra economical.
It took all of 45 minutes for the hen to change into fall-off-the-bone tender, and the pan juices tasted vivid with the vinegar with out being sharp. The aroma of rosemary was beautiful.
I served the hen with sautéed inexperienced beans, and the sauce and garlic have been loved with heat ciabatta bread. I shared this dish with the identical taster, who additionally had Hen with 40 Cloves of Garlic. We liked each equally!
We actually loved this Roman model of Hen alla Cacciatora. The flavour of the rosemary, garlic, and vinegar got here by means of completely.
Searing the hen for 10 minutes gave it a stunning golden coloration and imparted nice taste. We used a white Bordeaux wine. I served the hen with sautéed zucchini and roasted purple potatoes.
