Smoky Spanish Chicken with Peppers + Roasted Potatoes

Smoky Spanish Chicken with Peppers + Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients

For the roasted potatoes:

  • 4 large Russet or yellow-flesh potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks

  • Salt and pepper

  • ⅓ cup olive oil

  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed

  • Paprika 

  • Chopped parsley

For the chicken:

  • 2 very large red field peppers (mild peppers that have an elongated appearance) or 3 red bell peppers

  • 4 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts

  • Salt and pepper

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil 

  • 1 large fresh bay leaf

  • 1 large or 2 medium red onions, sliced

  • 1 small green or red bell pepper, sliced (optional)

  • 4 large cloves garlic, crushed or sliced

  • 1 round tablespoon sweet paprika (a palmful) 

  • 1 round tablespoon pimenton/smoked sweet paprika (a palmful)

  • 2 tablespoons picked fresh thyme

  • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar

  • ½ cup white wine

  • 1 to 1½ pounds tomatoes, seeded and chopped

  • Juice of 1 lemon

  • ½ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley 

Directions

Serves: 4

For the potatoes, parboil potatoes in salted water 5 minutes, pat dry. In a small saucepan, warm about ⅓ cup olive oil over low heat with the crushed garlic. Pour olive oil over potatoes and season with salt and pepper, toss to coat. Roast on a parchment- or foil-lined baking sheet at 450˚F to crisp and light-medium brown, remove from oven and add a light dusting of paprika and parsley.

For the chicken, turn on broiler and place rack one above center and char the peppers on all sides, cool in covered bowl to handle. Remove seeds and top and halve peppers lengthwise then across, then cut into ½-inch-wide strips.

Halve the chicken breasts across and season with salt and pepper.   

Heat a large cast iron or nonstick deep skillet over medium high heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, add the chicken and brown 3 minutes on each side and remove. Add more EVOO and the bay leaf, red onions, fresh bell peppers if using, season with salt and pepper, and soften 5 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and paprika and pimenton, stir a minute more, add thyme, add sherry vinegar then wine and then tomatoes and let simmer over medium heat 3 minutes, add chicken and roasted peppers to pan and cook at a low bubble 5 minutes or so more. Top with lemon juice and parsley and serve from skillet with potatoes.