Ingredients
3 cups Parmigiano and Herb-Fortified Stock, recipe follows
6 Roasted Tomatoes, recipe follows
2 large red bell peppers
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of all fat and skin (8 to 10 pieces)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms or 3 medium portabella caps, thinly sliced
2 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped or sliced
1/4 cup dry sherry or 1/2 cup dry wine, white or red
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked sweet paprika
A couple pinches saffron (20-24 threads)
1 cup quick-cooking polenta
A handful freshly grated Manchego cheese
A handful fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
Parmigiano and Herb-Fortified Stock
1 large rind trimmed from a hunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or a few small pieces rind perhaps saved-up
Herb bundle of several sprigs each fresh thyme, parsley and rosemary, tied
1 onion, quartered
2 ribs celery, sliced on angle
2 carrots, sliced on angle
Peeled rind of 1 lemon
2 fresh bay leaves
4 cups chicken stock
12 cups (3 quarts) water
Roasted Tomatoes
24 ripe organic vine tomatoes or large plum tomatoes
Several cloves garlic, crushed
Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), for liberal drizzling
Directions
Set aside or prepare the stock and tomatoes.
Char peppers over flame burner or under a broiler until blackened all over. Place charred peppers in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, cool to handle, seed and peel peppers and thinly slice.
Season the chicken liberally with salt and pepper, heat a tablespoon EVOO, a turn of the pan, in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and brown a few minutes on each side, then remove to a plate. Add the remaining EVOO and mushrooms, until browned. Add the onions and garlic, season with salt and pepper, stir occasionally for 8-10 minutes, then deglaze the pan with sherry or wine. Stir in the prepared tomatoes, peppers, and paprika. Cook for 10 minutes. Add the chicken and simmer 10 minutes more. Turn off the heat and cool the chicken, then cover and store for a make-ahead meal.
Cook's Note:
Reheat over medium heat, covered, then simmer uncovered until ready to serve. When the chicken is hot, bring the saffron and prepared stock to a boil. Whisk in the polenta and cook until it begins to pull away from the pot. Season with salt and stir in grated cheese. Serve the polenta in shallow bowls and top with Spanish Cacciatore, and garnish with parsley.
For the stock:
Place the cheese rind, herb bundle, onion, celery, carrots, lemon rind, bay leaves, chicken stock, and water into a pot and bring to a bubble, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer at least 1 hour, and then remove the rind, herb bundle, and vegetables with a slotted spoon or strainer.
For the tomatoes: Heat the oven to 500ºF.
Arrange the tomatoes on a baking sheet or baking sheets in a single layer. Scatter the garlic among the tomatoes, dress with EVOO to coat and season with salt and pepper. Roast the tomatoes until they burst and skins split and begin to char, about 30 minutes. Cool the tomatoes until cool enough to handle and peel. Place the tomatoes in a bowl.