sin-free pleasures

The stew that almost burnt down the house

Creamy Tomato and Chicken Stew
(Note: this is the dish that Steven cooked, that almost burnt the apartment down..)

4 rashes bacon
Oil
50g butter
300g small button mushrooms, halved
1.5kg chicken pieces
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
400g can tomatoes
1 cup chicken stock
250 ml cream
2 tbsp chopped parsley
2 tbsp lemon thyme leaves

1. Chop the bacon into large pieces. Place a large, heavy-based pan over medium heat. Brown the bacon, then remove and set aside on paper towels.
2. Heat oil and a third of the butter in the pan until foaming, then stir in the mushrooms and cook until softened and golden brown. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon.
3. Add oil to the pan with a little more butter. When the oil is hot, brown the chicken pieces into batches over high heat until th skin is golden all over and a little crisp. Remove from the pan.
4. Heat the remaining butter in the pan. Add the onion and garlic and cook over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes, or until softened. Pour in the tomatoesm stock and cream. Return the bacon, mushrooms and chicken pieces to the pan and simmer over medium-low heat for 25 minutes. Stir in the herbs, season with salt and freshly ground pepper and simmer for another 5 minutes before serving.

posted by f eelin gs @ 9:08 PM