Chicken Cacciatore

When I was a kid, my mom once made something that sounded awfully fancy to my childish ears: chicken cacciatore. Little did I know the classic dish was really very simple. I decided to add it to the menu last week because I could cram in a lot of fiber, and I knew it was another opportunity to use the quick-fix side dish miracle product: couscous.

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To make the chicken cacciatore, I started with some oil in a hot pan (chicken fryer, again). I added chunks of chicken breast and sprinkled in freshly cracked black pepper and a tablespoon or so of rosemary. The rosemary, for those of you with limited pantries, was something I happened to have on hand, but any Italian spice will do. Oregano, basil, and parsley would be fantastic, for example. I let the chicken brown on all sides, and I added in large chunks of onion and green pepper. I'm not personally a fan of cooked green peppers, but Ram loves them, and they are traditional components of this dish. I let the vegetables start to cook down and soften and then added two 16-ounce cans of stewed tomatoes.

For what it's worth, I am obsessed with cooked tomatoes. The stewed were heavenly. When they hit the pan, I reduced the heat and covered the pan so that all of the components could work together. About twenty minutes later, it was ready to plate. It's truly that simple. Certainly this dish would be delicious over egg noodles or a side of pasta, but couscous is a great (and way simple) variation. In this case, I boiled a cup-and-a-quarter of water, then turned off the heat and added a cup of couscous grains and a handful of frozen peas. I covered the concoction and let the grains soak in the water for five minutes. With a fluff, the couscous was ready. The peas were an easy way to add fiber and flavor-- and the color was electric!

This dish was a Ram-pleaser, and it was extremely easy. If you're looking for something that's quick to pull together and that can please almost any palate, give this a try! It's a classic Italian dish that's delicious to eat with fork in hand.