Sue's Recipes and Other Stories

Chicken Basque (4)

Ingredients

1x 3½ lb chickenjointed into 8 pieces,
brown basmati rice measured to the 8 fl oz level in a glass measuring jug
10fl oz chicken stock or stock made from Marigold vegetable bouillon powder
6fl oz dry white wine
½ large orangecut into wedges
1level teaspoon Chopped fresh thyme
2oz black olives pitted if you prefer
salt and freshly milled black pepper
2 large red peppers
1very large ( or 2 medium ) onions
2-3tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
5oz chorizo sausageskinned and cut into ½ inch slices
2oz sun-dried tomatoes in oil
2 plump garlic cloveschopped
1level tablespoon sun-dried tomato paste
½level teaspoon hot paprika

Instructions

Start by seasoning the chicken joints well with salt and pepper.
Next, slice the red peppers in half and remove the seeds and pith, then slice each half into six strips. Likewise, peel the onion and slice into strips of approximately the same size. The dried tomatoes should be drained, wiped dry with kitchen paper and then cut into ½ inch (1 cm) pieces.
Now heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a wide, shallow, flameproof casserole ( capacity about 8 pints) and, when it is fairly hot, add the chicken pieces – two or three at a time – and brown them to a nutty golden colour on both sides. As they brown remove them to a plate lined with kitchen paper, using a draining spoon.
Next add a little more oil to the casserole, with the heat slightly higher than medium. As soon as the oil is hot, add the onion and peppers and allow them to brown a little at the edges, moving them around from time to time, for about 5 minutes.
After that, add the chorizo, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic and toss these around for a minute or two until the garlic is pale golden and the chorizo has taken on some colour.
Next, stir in the rice and, when the grains have a good coating of oil, add the sun-dried tomato paste, paprika and chopped thyme. Pour in the stock and wine, and add some seasoning.
As soon as everything has reached simmering point, turn the heat down to a gentle simmer. Add a little more seasoning, then place the chicken gently on top of everything (it’s important to keep the rice down in the liquid).
Finally, place the wedges of orange in among the chicken and scatter with the olives.
Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook over the gentlest possible heat for about 50 minutes-1 hour or until the rice is cooked but still retains a little bite.Alternatively cook in a pre-heated oven at gas mark 4, 350°F (180°C), for 1 hour. Serve immediately, perhaps with a green salad on the side.

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