LEAN Life Recipe: Chicken Cacciatore
Are you already thinking about your New Year's Resolutions and the changes you'd like to make in 2018?
It's hard to believe the new year is almost here! Avoid the restriction, rules, and burn out this year and join the list of ladies in my LEAN Life Program! They're seeing amazing progress and having fun doing it!
Registration is NOW OPEN for the next round staring on January 6th and it's an amazing value at $199 for the 6 week curriculum!
I would love to help you feel stronger, healthier, and more vibrant than ever before!
Regardless of your participation in the LEAN Life Program - I have an other AMAZING healthy recipe for you this week on the blog! Chicken Cacciatore! I whipped this up in Sunday and it was very easy, very hearty, and very healthy! MAJOR WIN! I even used a food kit from my local Whole Foods market... so if you have one nearby you might be able to grab one for yourself and make this meal even more simple!
"What IS chicken cacciatore, anyway?" That's what I thought when I saw that neat little meal kit at the meat counter at Whole Foods. I wasn't even sure, and I wasn't motivated enough to google it with my poor cell service (why is that Tribeca Whole Foods a DEAD ZONE, Verizon?! Why?!)
I had one memory of Chicken Cacciatore, and that was that my dad used to love my nana's recipe when I was a little girl. Well, that was reason enough for me to grab it and give it a try. And I sure am glad I did!
Turns out chicken cacciatore is Italian for "you didn't even know Italians cooked chicken did you?" (This is a lie. Cacciatore actually means "hunter" in Italian. In cuisine, alla cacciatora refers to a meal prepared "hunter-style" with onions, herbs, usually tomatoes, often bell peppers, and sometimes wine. Cacciatore is popularly made with braised chicken or rabbit. Don't you just love wikipedia?) But here's the real deal: you get all the lovely classicItalian flavors with the hearty stew like quality of a delicious coq au vin.
The package contained 3 chicken drumsticks and 2 chicken thighs, both with the bone in. I think this was important because the depth of flavor in this dish is awesome. I highly recommend you stick to bone in chicken! On the label I found that I'd need some canned tomatoes for the recipe but I had garlic, red wine and gluten free flour at home already! The universe was practically begging me to be adventurous and make this meal kit!
I put it all tougher, let it simmer for roughly 75 minutes on the stovetop, and it was phenomenal. This is a new keeper in my winter food repertoire for sure. If you make it let me know how it goes!
Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients:
6 skinless Chicken Drumsticks
2 Skinless Bone-In Chicken Thighs
2 Mixed Sliced Bell Peppers
Half Sliced Yellow Onion
1/2 Cup Sliced Shitake Mushrooms
1- 28 ounce can Diced Tomatoes
3 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/3 Cup Flour (I used Cup for Cup Gluten Free Flour)
1 Cup Dry Red Wine or Chicken Broth
1 Tbsp Oregano
Pinch Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Sea salt & black pepper (to taste)
Directions:
Heat a large, heavy bottomed pan over medium high heat and add oil.
Meanwhile, sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, and dredge in flour. Shake off excess.
Add chicken to the pan, brown on all sides, and transfer to a dish.
Add bell peppers, onions, and garlic to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
Add mushrooms, oregano, and crushed red pepper, and cook for 5 more minutes.
Add wine or broth, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the tomatoes.
Nestle the chicken into the sauce.
Partially cover and cook on low heat, simmering until chicken is tender and falling off the bone, about 1 hour.
Nutrition Information
Makes 2 Servings. Each Serving:
Protein: 50g
Carbs: 34g
Fat: 28g
Total Calories: 678 cals
About Ashley:
Ashley is a Pilates instructor and entrepreneur in NYC who specializes in biomechanics and exercise nutrition for women. She uses the science behind exercise physiology to empower her clients to lead healthy, happy lives. Her passion project is writing “The LEAN Life Newsletter” which goes out every Tuesday and focuses on Lifestyle, Exercise, Active recovery, and Nutrition and serves as the backbone for her L.E.A.N. Life online health and fitness programs. She aims to get this information into the hands of as many women as possible so they can feel stronger and more confident in their bodies. Follow her Instagram page for daily fitness and nutrition tips!