Provençal chicken with tomato and olive sauce

Name: Provençal chicken with tomato and olive sauce
Cook time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 1 small clove garlic, finely chopped; 2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley; 4 free-range chicken legs; sea salt and freshly ground pepper; 2 tbsp plain flour; 1 small brown onion, finely chopped; 1/2 cup dry white wine; 400g tin diced tomatoes; 2/3 cup black olives; small handful basil leaves; ; 

August 3, 2015

Step into the Provencal bistro, at home:Chicken with tomato and olive sauceWilliam Meppem

Time:30 mins - 1 hourServes:4

Uncork the rose, hang up the Cezannes, put on the Piaf and declare that, for this evening, your Provencal bistro is open. I like this main dish served with either soft polenta or potato puree. This tomato and olive sauce is also a killer with either barbecued chicken or seafood.

Ingredients

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
4 free-range chicken legs
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp plain flour
1 small brown onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
400g tin diced tomatoes
2/3 cup black olives
small handful basil leaves

Method

COMBINE 1 tbsp oil with garlic and parsley in a dish and set aside.
Cut each LEG at the joint to remove the thigh from the drumstick.
Season CHICKEN LEGS with salt and pepper, then coat with flour, shaking off any excess. Warm remaining oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Sauté the chicken pieces, about 10 minutes each side, until the skin is evenly coloured. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 10 more minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and keep warm.
FOR THE SAUCE, keep the frying pan on a low heat and cook onion with a small pinch of salt. When onion begins to colour, pour in the wine. Raise heat to high and deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon until the brown bits dissolve and the wine has almost completely reduced.
ADD THE tomatoes and continue to cook, shaking the pan and stirring until the excess liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Add olives, stir through the garlic and parsley oil, and simmer for a couple of minutes.
PLACE CHICKEN PIECES into a warmed serving dish, pour over the sauce, scatter with basil leaves and serve.