Recipe - Nicoise Chicken Stew With Tomatoes And Black Olives

3 pound Chicken, cut into 8 serving
pieces
3 tablespoon Olive oil
12 small White onions, peeled
One half teaspoon Dried thyme or 1 sprig fresh
thyme
One fourth cup Shallot, minced
2 Garlic cloves, minced
2 2 pound cans Italian plum
tomatoes, drained and
chopped, reserving liquid
from one can
One half cup Dry white wine
Cheesecloth bag containing 6
parsley stems, 1 bay leaf
and 6 peppercorns
2/3 cup Pitted black Nicoise olives
Fresh lemon juice to taste

In a large heavy skillet or pot, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderate
heat until hot. Add the onions and thyme and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or
until lightly browned. Transfer browned onions to a bowl. In the skillet
heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot.
Pat the chicken pieces dry and season with salt and pepper. Brown the
chicken, in batches if necessary, and transfer to a plate.

Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan and add the shallots
and garlic, cooking over moderate heat for 30 seconds. Stir in the
tomatoes, wine, and cheesecloth bag and add the onions, chicken skin side
up, and any juices that have accumulated on the plate. Bring the liquid to
a boil, simmer the mixture, covered partially, for 20 minutes. Simmer the
mixture, uncovered, for 15 minutes, or until the breast pieces are tender,
and transfer the breast pieces to a plate. Simmer the remaining chicken and
onions for 15 minutes more, or until they are tender, transfer them to the
plate, and discard the cheesecloth bag. Cook the sauce over moderately high
heat, stirring, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it is thickened, add the
chicken, onions, olives, and lemon juice and cook the stew, covered, over
very low heat for 3 minutes, or until it is heated through. (The stew may
be made 1 day ahead. Let the stew cool, uncovered, and chill it, covered.
Reheat the stew, covered, over low heat, adding water if necessary.)

Yield: 4 servings
NOTES : (Recipes adapted from Gourmet Magazine)

Posted to MCRecipe Digest V1 #369, by Angele Freeman
jfreeman@netusa1.net on Sun, 12 Jan 1997.