Chicken Scarpariello

Since I love Italian food I decided to try something different rather than pasta (shocker I know). I found this recipe from the food and wine magazine.

• 8 small skinless, boneless chicken thighs (2 pounds)
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• All-purpose flour, for dusting
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 8 garlic cloves, halved lengthwise and lightly smashed
• 4 large rosemary sprigs, broken into 2-inch pieces
• 2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup Peppadew peppers or other pickled peppers, sliced

1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and dust with flour. In a large skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the chicken and cook over high heat, turning once, until browned and crusty on both sides, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and rosemary and cook for 3 minutes, until the garlic is lightly browned. Transfer the chicken to a platter, leaving the rosemary and garlic in the skillet.
2. Add the stock to the skillet and cook over high heat, scraping up any browned bits, until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add the lemon juice and butter and swirl until emulsified. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Add the peppers and cook, turning the chicken until coated in the sauce, about 3 minutes. Transfer the chicken and sauce to the platter and serve.

While I was making this I thought it was going to be a huge flop, I started by burning the garlic a little.

 

but I continued thinking that the chicken broth would cover the burnt taste. (fingers crossed). Before I added the chicken broth however I did add a little white wine to deglaze the flavors from the pan and a little wine makes things better. ;) 

Next I added the chicken and peppers and let it simmer to cook the chicken through and let the flavors come together. 

warning these peppers were spicy!

For sides I decided to go with some parmesan flavored couscous and salads.

The finished product

 

The chicken was actually really really good. The flavor was amazing and the sauce thickened leaving a nice coating of sauce on the chicken. I actually didn't eat any of the pepper because they were way to spicy for me. The couscous and salad were good also but the chicken was the star of the show!