Lauren joins Engine 101’s family as she chows down on a true firehouse meal that’s so good it makes her list of TOP 5 meals ever on Chicago’s Best!
Chicken Cacciatore
*Feeds 14 hungry firemen / paramedics
INGREDIENTS:
• 8 lbs hot or mild italian sausage
• 12 lbs skin on chicken thighs and legs
• 3 bell peppers sliced (assorted colors)
• 2 big packages mushrooms sliced
• 5 large vidalia onions sliced
• 15 gloves garlic minced
• 2 16 oz cans san marzano tomatoes
• 2 16oz containers of kalamata olives
• 1 liter dry white wine
• 4 big handful’s of basil
• 5 cups flour seasoned with salt and pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil
RECIPE:
1. Cut Italian sausage in thirds
2. Brown in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes & then put sausage off to the side
3. Coat chicken in flour mixture & heat a large Dutch oven type pan – coat the bottom of the pan generously with oil
4. Brown all chicken pieces on top and bottom – put off to the side (Do not clean out pan)
5. Add more oil, peppers, onions, garlic, mushrooms – sauté until the start to get soft
6. Add tomatoes with juice – reduce for a few minutes
7. Add white wine and reduce by half
8. Add kalamata olives and basil – mix everything together well
9. Salt and pepper to taste
10. Return chicken and sausage to pan and bake uncovered at 375 degree for 1 hour