Chicken Cacciatore Hunters Stew
Chicken Cacciatore is one of my favorite meals. This traditional Italian hunter's stew is perfect to prepare any time of year. It's easy to make, delicious, and can be frozen for a later date. There is plenty of room for variations. (I added greens to the dish in the photo). For a Vegetarian Version, skip the chicken. Use carrots, celery, red peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, eggplant, and kale.
Chicken Cacciatore Recipe
Ingredients:
2 tbs. olive oil
2 cloves garlic sliced
1 large onion, diced
1# chicken, I prefer thighs, cut in pieces
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 can organic diced tomatoes
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
½ cup wine, I prefer red but white works well too
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
¼ cup fresh basil (optional)
1 zucchini, sliced
Additional salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Sauté garlic and onions and until translucent. Add chicken, carrots, wine and simmer for 5 minutes, add tomatoes and juice, mushrooms, salt, pepper, and half the basil, simmer for another 10 minutes. Add the zucchini, and cook until zucchini is tender
Salt and pepper to taste.
If you have an Instant Pot, this meal can be ready in no time.
Sear chicken in olive oil on sauté setting, add all the ingredients except zucchini and cook on poultry setting. Add the zucchini at the end of the cooking process, close the lid, and allow it to steam cook.
For the Vegetarian Cacciatore Instant Pot version: sauté onions, garlic, and celery until translucent. Add wine and simmer for five minutes, add desired vegetables and spices (except for zucchini, add that last and steam cook ) Use soup function for cooking.
Enjoy
Serve over rice or pasta with remaining fresh basil.