A few days after I posted a round-up of recipes that had been submitted to my Let Them Eat Chicken food-blogging event in July last year, I received an email from my sister. Admittedly a little late, she sent me her own chicken recipe in the hope that I would add it to my collection. I promised to do so … I really, truly meant to do so … it’s just that I’m a little late, too!
To make up for my negligence, I decided that the honourable thing to do would be to make my sister’s recipe for dinner one evening on my new range cooker. Perhaps she would think I’d been waiting all this time until our kitchen was finished so I could showcase her recipe in appropriate splendour …
Hmm, maybe not. My sister knows me too well 😉 . Sorry, Lucy – I just forgot. Can you forgive me?
I have to say, it’s my own loss for having overlooked my sister’s recipe before now. O and I enjoyed a scrumptious chicken dinner a couple of evenings ago – a sort of coq au vin with an Italian twist. We ate ours with a pile of creamy mashed potato, although Lucy says it’s also good served with basmati rice.
You may remember that my sister once presented me with some cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy in Borough Market? Well, when she has time, she likes to buy her chicken from a no less prestigious source nearby – Wyndham House Poultry (how I envy my sister’s shopping habits!). She says she discovered these butchers in a lovely book called Food Lovers’ London (she often refers to this book in her emails to me – I’ve got my fingers crossed that she might take me on a tour around its pages one day 😉 ).
Living slightly too far away from Borough Market for a quick shopping dash in between the school runs, I chose to use thighs from Devonshire Red chickens that I bought in my local Sainsbury’s.
The Devonshire Red is a slow-growing breed reared free from the worst practices of intensive farming. The chickens’ higher welfare standards are assured by the RSPCA’s Freedom Food accreditation.
So, here it is – my sister’s chicken casserole … ta daaaaa!
Italian-style Chicken Casserole
Serves 4
1kg free range chicken thighs and drumsticks
1 red onion, sliced
250ml red wine
1 tin of tomatoes
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 x 410g can cannellini beans, drained
1 x 450g jar roasted red peppers, drained and sliced (note: I roasted some red peppers myself to save a bit of money here)
2 sprigs rosemary, chopped
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/ fan 160 degrees C. In a large oven proof casserole dish, sear the chicken for 5 to 6 minutes until brown. Transfer to a plate.
Add the onions to the casserole dish and cook for 3 to 4 minutes stirring until softened. Pour over the red wine and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken.
Add the paprika, tomatoes, beans, peppers and rosemary. Put the chicken back in to the casserole dish too. Bring to the boil and cover.
Cook in the oven for 30 minutes until the chicken is tender and the juices run clear.
amerrierworld.com 
kadeeae
/ February 4, 2009I have never used smoked paprika and just saw it in a recipe a few days ago too, guess I’ll have to get some! The casserole looks sooo yummy!
amerrierworld
/ February 5, 2009I’ve always associated smoked paprika with Spanish food before now – it’s nice sprinkled over oven-baked potato wedges, too 🙂 .
Jeannette
/ February 5, 2009What a good recipe! Especially as I have everything except the beans in my larder. I must make this soon and I will let you know what we think of it. I always buy free-range chicken an the thighs and drumsticks are a good buy and tasty.
amerrierworld
/ February 5, 2009I have to confess that I’ve sometimes resorted to washing Heinz Baked Beans clean of their tomato sauce so that I can use them if I have nothing else in the cupboard …! I look forward to hearing about your meal, Jeannette 🙂 .
Lucy
/ February 5, 2009I am so chuffed that my recipe finally made it onto your blog – thank you! I’m really glad you enjoyed it too. I love the idea about the baked beans…great for an emergency. I’m now looking forward to seeing you and having a dinner cooked in your new kitchen.
Luvnhugs, Lucy x
amerrierworld
/ February 6, 2009I was hoping you might cook dinner for us all … 😉
Thanks for your recipe, Little Sis’
xx
Dad
/ February 7, 2009Let me know the date of the planned party and I’ll bring E and a Biscuit – together with some plonk and ale.
Nice to see/read a bit of sibling rivalry and affection.
Luvnhugs, Dad xxxooo
Jeannette
/ February 8, 2009Big success! I made the Chicken casserole today, and it was voted a winner! My son and DIL and their son came and joined us for dinner and we all enjoyed the dish. I made it as written and must admit I was a bit apprehensive, thought it seemed too easy but I was very pleasantly surprised and DIL asked for recipe. Very tasty, thank you for printing recipe. I recommend it to others.
Melinda
/ February 9, 2009It does look really good. I am always up for a new chicken recipe. Especially one that doesn’t require hard to find ingredients. But I have to laugh at you rinsing your Heinz Baked beans of their sauce! I don’t think I would have thought to do that!
Like Jeannette, I actually will try out this recipe and let you know what I think.
Thanks Lucy!
amerrierworld
/ February 9, 2009What was that about sibling rivalry, Dad? Nothing doing – they just love Lucy more than me *sob* 😉
Peter Carton
/ August 22, 2012Hi. Gonna try this recipe tonight as its better than my usual chicken/tomatoes effort
Will try and let you know how it goes. Thank you!!
amerrierworld
/ August 22, 2012I’ve made this recipe several times for friends and it’s always been a big success. Hope you like it too, Peter 🙂