Pollo alla Cacciatora (Hunter-Style Braised Chicken)
Local name: Pollo alla cacciatora
In short: Chicken pieces browned and braised with tomatoes, white wine, peppers, mushrooms and rosemary until tender. A rustic one-pot supper. It takes about 1 h 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 55 min
- Total
- 1 h 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 485 kcal
Cacciatora means hunter-style, and the dish was originally made with whatever the hunter brought home, often rabbit or game. Today it is most often chicken, browned and simmered with tomatoes, wine, herbs and sometimes mushrooms or peppers. Recipes vary from region to region, with red or white wine and different herbs. This home-style version uses white wine, bell pepper, mushrooms and rosemary, and the sauce is excellent with polenta or crusty bread.
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry and season well with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large heavy pot or deep pan over medium-high heat.
- Brown the chicken skin side down for 5 to 6 minutes until deep golden, then turn and brown the other side for 3 minutes. Work in batches, then move the chicken to a plate.
- Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of fat. Add the onion and pepper and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until softened.
- Add the remaining oil and the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes until they release their liquid and start to brown. Stir in the garlic for 1 minute.
- Pour in the wine and scrape up the browned bits. Let it bubble for 3 minutes, then add the tomatoes, rosemary and bay leaves.
- Return the chicken to the pot with any juices. Cover and simmer gently for 30 to 35 minutes, turning the pieces once, until the chicken reaches 74°C (165°F) and the juices run clear.
- Uncover and simmer for 5 minutes more to thicken the sauce if needed. Remove the bay leaves, scatter with parsley and serve.
Tips
- Remove the skin before braising for a lighter dish, though the skin adds flavor to the sauce. Browning it well gives the sauce its depth.
- Add a handful of black olives or a spoonful of capers in the last 10 minutes for a more savory sauce. Rabbit is the traditional alternative to chicken.
Questions and answers
What does cacciatora mean?
It means hunter-style in Italian. The dish was made with game or chicken, cooked slowly with tomatoes, herbs and wine, a filling meal for a day outdoors.
What do you serve with chicken cacciatora?
Soft polenta is traditional, but mashed potatoes, rice, crusty bread or plain pasta all work well for mopping up the sauce.
Can I make chicken cacciatora ahead or freeze it?
Yes. It keeps for 4 days in the fridge and tastes even better the next day. Freeze it in portions with the sauce for up to 3 months and reheat gently.
How long does it take to make Pollo alla Cacciatora (Hunter-Style Braised Chicken)?
About 1 h 15 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 55 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pollo alla Cacciatora (Hunter-Style Braised Chicken)?
About 485 kcal per serving, with 40 g of protein, 14 g of carbohydrates and 30 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 485 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 14 g |
| Fat | 30 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 750 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
