Basque Chicken

June 6th, 2012 by Not Quite Nigella
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I have to tell you that Mr NQN is not your usual smooth talking man. In fact he has a charming awkward appeal about him. For instance, he was trying to pay me a compliment the other day after I had returned from being overseas.

“You know when you’re around, I’m never hungry. But when you left, I couldn’t get full” he said.

“What does that mean?” I asked him.

“It means I missed you. That’s a compliment” he answered smiling broadly.

Addressing the hunger in his stomach, I threw whatever I could at him. It started with a humongous bowl of oatmeal porridge to fill the growling gap in his tummy, followed by sweet dulce de leche filled chocolates bought in Buenos Aires and ended with this Basque Chicken.

Adapted from a Manu Fieldel recipe I loved the idea that the chicken was cooked with a colourful range of capsicum and spiced up using piment d’espelette, a gift I received from my friend Myriam. Piment d’espelette is a chilli pepper powder that is used extensively in Basque cuisine. It was also a nod to Mr NQN’s basque heritage and we both love spicy food.

I gave an enormous maryland to Mr NQN who devoured it quickly and then looked around for more. He loved the soft chicken covered in sauce that fell off the bone with barely a nudge. The sauce is lifted with the vinegar and the soft vegetables and prosciutto added flavour and colour. His verdict? “I’m finally full” he said grinning.

So tell me Dear Reader, are you good at taking compliments? Or do you try and deflect them?

And here is today’s Wallpaper Wednesday picture! xxx

Basque Chicken

Serves 4

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes plus 50 minutes unattended

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 red onions, sliced
  • 8 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 100g/3.5ozs prosciutto or bacon
  • 1 yellow, 1 red and one green capsicum, seeded and sliced thinly
  • 2 large green chillies, sliced into rings
  • Piment d’espelette or cayenne pepper
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped finely
  • 200ml white wine
  • 4 tablespoons red wine or balsamic vinegar
  • 4 chicken marylands (leg and thigh)
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • salt and pepper to season

1. In a large cast iron pot, heat 2 of the tablespoons of oil on medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft. Add the garlic and prosciutto and cook for a few minutes until garlic is softened. Add sliced capsicums, green chilli and piment d’espelette or cayenne pepper to taste (I found 3/4 teaspoon of the piment d’espelette quite hot). Cook for 5 minutes until capsicum is starting to soften.

2. Add the thyme, bay leaves, chopped tomatoes, wine and vinegar and simmer with the lid off for about 8-10 minutes. Season this with sugar, salt and pepper to taste and remove from the pan and place in a bowl.

3. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the pan on medium to high heat. Brown the chicken marylands, two at a time skin side down until browned and then turn over. Once browned, turn heat down to low and place lid on and cook the chicken for 20 minutes.

Yep, that is a microwave plate that I used. This is what happens when Mr NQN uses all of the plates and doesn’t do the dishes ;)

4. Then top the chicken with the capsicum mixture and put lid back on and cook for 50 minutes until the chicken is very soft. Serve with rice or bread.

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55 Comments | Add your own

  • 1. Kristy@thelifeshemad | June 6th, 2012 at 7:34 am | #

    I love that you dove right in there and started cooking, even with no clean plates to rest your chicken on!

    I am a compliment deflector for sure. Even though I love to get them, sometimes I just don’t know how to react in the moment, so it’s usually deflection.

  • 2. Theresa | June 6th, 2012 at 7:47 am | #

    I am terrible at accepting compliments. I need to find one gracious way of accepting a compliment and memorise it.

    This recipe comes to me at exactly the right time. My boyfriend is a Brit who loves Spanish and yet my repertoire consists mainly of Asia or Italian dishes. I like Spanish too but have not previously focused on it too much. Although my paternal grandmother is from this region so I should consider it a history lesson :)

  • 3. Laura (Tutti Dolci) | June 6th, 2012 at 7:48 am | #

    This looks so flavorful and delicious – the perfect way to appease Mr. NQN!

  • 4. Miss T | June 6th, 2012 at 8:05 am | #

    total deflection: “oh your hair looks nice today!” – “what are you trying to say???”
    Cannot WAIT for all the SA posts!
    t X

  • 5. Rosa | June 6th, 2012 at 8:08 am | #

    Scrumptious! Great flavors. Something I could eat on a weekly basis.

    Lovely clicks!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  • 6. sophia | June 6th, 2012 at 8:42 am | #

    Hahaha I couldn’t see why that’s a compliment, either. But it’s the heart that counts! Or maybe he was speaking from his stomach…

  • 7. Lisa (bakebikeblog) | June 6th, 2012 at 8:53 am | #

    a delighftul one pot wonder!!!

  • 8. Julia | June 6th, 2012 at 9:03 am | #

    My husband’s family (dad’s side) is Basque… I should make this for them, I’m sure they’d love it, it looks delicious!

  • 9. barbara | June 6th, 2012 at 9:04 am | #

    I love everything Basque. The land, the people and the food. This chicken dish sounds wonderful.

  • 10. Di | June 6th, 2012 at 9:10 am | #

    That looks like just the perfect meal for the horrible weather we’re having at the moment. Warms the tummy and warms the house while it’s cooking!

  • 11. Laney | June 6th, 2012 at 9:47 am | #

    I am keeping warm with this tonight!

  • 12. Laney | June 6th, 2012 at 9:48 am | #

    Can I use drumsticks though? My hubby loves those

  • 13. Anna @ The Littlest | June 6th, 2012 at 10:17 am | #

    I love this dish, especially because of the 3 different capsicums!

  • 14. Em | June 6th, 2012 at 10:36 am | #

    I was taught to say “thank you” if someone gives me a compliment, and leave it at that.
    Mr NQN sounds like J, always hungry, even half an hour after a 10 course degustation!

  • 15. Eha | June 6th, 2012 at 10:47 am | #

    A beautiful and easy dish to make during the cold of the winter: shall try your version soonest even tho’ it’ll have to be cayenne pepper :) ! Compliments: methinks age teaches one how to accept and enjoy them. In my younger days, embarrassment oft ensued. Now, if I feel some one to be sincere, a smile and ‘thank you so much’ fill the bill [with a quiet 'how nice' to myself]. If someone is having me on, however, they’ll get as good as they gave :D !

  • 16. Sarah | June 6th, 2012 at 11:18 am | #

    I just love the pictures of the flamenco dancers, like little tins of paprika. That’s great packaging for you: Do you need more paprika? No, but I’ve just got to have that tin…

  • 17. Intolerant Chef | June 6th, 2012 at 11:21 am | #

    What a lovely compliment indeed. You fill both the hole in his stomach, and his heart :)

  • 18. Daisy@Nevertoosweet | June 6th, 2012 at 11:31 am | #

    HAHHAA Mr NQN is so cute :) I think that’s a nice compliment hehe i’m usually alright with compliments but it really depends who’s saying them to me hehe :D

    This looks like a great recipe Lorraine can’t wait to try it!

  • 19. Barbara @ Barbara Ba | June 6th, 2012 at 12:13 pm | #

    What a great meal. So sweet that he missed you. I’m much better now at taking a compliment than when I was younger. Although I do have to remind myself to just say thank you. xoxo Mum

  • 20. Margaret | June 6th, 2012 at 12:30 pm | #

    I think it was Mr NQN’s heart that couldn’t get full while you were gone, but he mistook it for an emptiness in his stomach. :)

  • 21. Carolyn Jung | June 6th, 2012 at 12:40 pm | #

    What a great dish to come home to! There’s a fave Basque chicken recipe from a local chef here. The sauce has plenty of espelette in it. It’s to die for. He calls the sauce “Basque ketchup,” and once you have it, you will never go back to the stuff in the squeeze bottle again. ;)

  • 22. Nic@diningwithastud | June 6th, 2012 at 12:58 pm | #

    Im awful with compliments. Im def a deflector haha. Love the sound of the Piment d’espelette :)

  • 23. Patrizia | June 6th, 2012 at 1:07 pm | #

    This looks and sounds absolutely delicous; definitely one to try very soon. Lorraine thank you so much for the workshop yesterday which we enjoyed immensely and came away from inspired, enthused and brimming with new ideas. You are such a beautiful person; your warm heart shines through and it was both a pleasure and privilege to share in the workshop. May the rest of your time in North Queensland be an outstanding success. Until next time….warmest wishes, Tricia

  • 24. Hotly Spiced | June 6th, 2012 at 1:17 pm | #

    What a pretty looking stew. I love all the colours. I don’t have any of that chilli powder and I don’t know where to get it but I will track it down and try this because it looks like excellent comfort food. I am okay taking compliments if they’re short and sharp. When a person goes on and on and on I start to feel really uncomfortable. xx

  • 25. Cookin' Canuck | June 6th, 2012 at 2:23 pm | #

    It sounds as though both his stomach and his heart missed you desperately. As for the chicken…well, I’d happily gobble that up whether or not I’d been deprived for several days.

  • 26. chef_d | June 6th, 2012 at 3:07 pm | #

    Oh yum, was just thinking what to do with chicken…beautiful pictures as always!

  • 27. Camellia Amelia | June 6th, 2012 at 5:20 pm | #

    A family dish for many, including myself! I myself am freezing and dream of this for this evening’s meal…Ciao!!

  • 28. Amy Fonterra | June 6th, 2012 at 5:25 pm | #

    My mum is making this for dinner. I cannot wait!!!!! =)

  • 29. Dominic | June 6th, 2012 at 5:42 pm | #

    Those pictures are great. Any idea where I can get them from? Are they postcards?

  • 30. Sharon O | June 6th, 2012 at 5:42 pm | #

    Hi Lorraine, you’re very lucky to have an appreciate hubby when it comes to food. Enjoy it! :-) Unfortunately, mine prefers more “plain” sort of food so I’m afraid this wouldn’t impress him much (it impress mes, however!!) He’s happy with a good piece of steak. But if you love to cook for the ones you love, like me, well, all I can say is, you’re a lucky gal to have a perpetually hungry husband :-) ))

  • 31. marcellina | June 6th, 2012 at 5:56 pm | #

    Lorraine, it’s amazing that today’s post features Basque chicken because the Basque people were also part of our multicultural town. It was so wonderful meeting you today. Keep an eye on my posts – hopefully we will see some improvements!!! Thank you!

  • 32. marcellina | June 6th, 2012 at 5:57 pm | #

    No, that’s silly – I meant “meeting you yesterday”!!!

  • 33. catty | June 6th, 2012 at 6:13 pm | #

    hahha best compliment ever :) I love this dish right now, so weather appropriate!!

  • 34. Michelle | June 6th, 2012 at 7:15 pm | #

    i tend to not buy into compliments, for some reason. in fact, i’m wary of them. i really need to change and start thanking people sincerely for compliments.

  • 35. Tandy | June 6th, 2012 at 7:17 pm | #

    What a lovely compliment! I love the sound of this chicken dish :)

  • 36. Eva | June 6th, 2012 at 9:06 pm | #

    This is why I love blogging: capsicum! We call them peppers! What is a maryland?
    This recipe looks wonderful, I’m always looking for new things to do with chicken, thanks.

  • 37. Johanna GGG | June 6th, 2012 at 9:38 pm | #

    you are truly proof that the way to a man’s heart is his stomach

  • 38. Ichigo Shortcake | June 6th, 2012 at 9:47 pm | #

    Although I’m not a big fan of capsicums, this dish makes them actually look delicious! XD

  • 39. Karen | June 6th, 2012 at 9:49 pm | #

    I chuckled at the way he expressed his compliment. It appears you know just the way to keep him happy. I would be happy to have this meal as well.

  • 40. Gourmet Chick | June 6th, 2012 at 10:36 pm | #

    This looks like perfect winter food Lorraine – spicy and filling. And I am hopeless at accepting compliments!

  • 41. Coffee and Crumpets | June 6th, 2012 at 11:40 pm | #

    Mr NQN is a funny man! I laughed so hard when I read what he said. I am not gracious at all when it comes to accepting compliments. I never understood why…sometimes I think that we do what we do…like its almost expected…so a compliment throws me off. I will take them though. Your dish looks so amazing. So vibrant and rich with all those pretty colours. Bet it tastes fantastic too. I have made a version of this before a long time ago. It was good. I like Basque cuisine a lot too.

  • 42. JennandSeth | June 7th, 2012 at 1:12 am | #

    this chicken sounds mouthwatering – yum!!

  • 43. CJ at Food Stories | June 7th, 2012 at 2:41 am | #

    Mr NQN is so sweet … food obviously tastes better when made with love :-)

  • 44. Not Quite Nigella | June 7th, 2012 at 8:09 am | #

    Hi Kristy-LOL I should have looked in the dishwasher and noticed the dirty dishes! :P I am the same-I’m trying to learn how to accept them graciously :)

    Hi Theresa-I know, it’s hard isn’t it! Oh what great timing then! I hope you both like it! :D

    Hi Laura -Thanks Laura! He was very pleased with it although he might have been pleased with anything given his state of hunger :P

    Hi Miss T-Haha! You are too funny :lol: x

    Hi Rosa-Thanks Rosa! :D

    Hi sophia-Yes he is a funny guy! :lol: Yes from the stomach I think ;)

    Hi Julia-Oh how wonderful! :D I wonder what they would think of it! :)

    Hi barbara -I’d love to go there one day! :D Thank you!

    Hi Di-Yes, you’re right, it’s perfect rainy weather food! :D Thanks!

    Hi Laney-Wonderful! I hope you liked it! Absolutely, any cut of chicken can be used :)

    Hi Anna-Hehe me too! I love the colours of the capsicums! :D

    Hi Em-Oh well that’s perhaps the simplest and best solution! Hehe aren’t they great though when you can’t finish a plate?

    Hi Eha-Thank you Eha! I hope that you like it! :D I like these simple solutions to handling compliments! :D

    Hi Sarah-Thanks! Oh yes they’re so cute aren’t they? Haha sounds familiar! :lol:

    Hi Rebecca-Thank you so much! :D

    Hi Daisy-He’s a funny guy :lol: Yes that’s true! I hope you like it! :D

    Hi mum-Hehe and I bet you get compliments on your cooking all the time too! :D xxx

    Hi Margaret-Aww thanks Margaret! He does get a bit wild when I’m gone, and I’m talking about the state of the apartment! :P

    Hi Carolyn-Oh yes that is spicy stuff-I love it! :D Haha Basque ketchup is a great name! :D

    Hi Nic-Hehe it’s hard for some people isn’t it! :D

    Hi Patrizia-Thank you so much! :D I’m so glad that I met you and Marcella and thanks for participating in such a wonderful way. I’ll email you about your lovely book idea too when I get back to Sydney and have a bit more time to go through it in more detail. Thank you again and all the best! :) x

    Hi Charlie-Thank you! I love colourful things when its cold. Otherwise everything looks so brown! :lol: Oh yes I know what
    you mean!

    Hi Cookin’ Canuck-I hope so, well at least I think his stomach did :lol: Aren’t you sweet! :)

    Hi chef_d-Oh cool! I hope you like it and thank you! :)

    Hi Camellia Amelia-that’s wonderful and yes it’s great for warming one up! :)

    Hi Amy-Oh great, how was it? :D

    Hi Dominic-Oh they’re from a restaurant in Manly called Jah Bar :)

    Hi Sharon-I am indeed! Oh I know some of those and I would find that an immense challenge. I’d try to change that of course but then of course they’re the type to fiercely resist change!

    Hi marcellina-Oh really! Hehe what a coincidence! I had no idea, I really must come back! It was so wonderful to meet you and Patrizia and thank you so much for coming along to the writing workshop! :) x

    Hi catty-Hehe such a guy right! :lol:

    Hi Michelle-Oh I see! I guess it depends on the person for me :)

    Hi Tandy-I think he really meant well :) Thank you!

    Hi Eva-Oh yes of course you do! I forgot about that! A maryland is a drumstick and a thigh piece. What do you guys call those?

    Hi Johanna-Hehe yes through starvation :lol:

    Hi Ichigo Shortcake-Oh I keep hearing about people that don’t like capsicum! :o I wonder if there is something you could replace it with? Hmm other vegetables?

    Hi Karen-Hehe yes he’s a smoothie my husband :lol: Thank you so much!

    Hi Gourmet Chick-Yes I love spicy food when it’s cold! It really warms me up :) Hehe you and me both!

    Hi Coffee and Crumpets -He’s very cute :lol: Yes i think it really depends on who is giving it too and whether you think it

    is deserved and sincere :) Thank you so much! I really must explore Basque cuisine more! :)

    Hi JennandSeth-Thank you so much! :D

    Hi CJ-You might be right there! ;)

  • 45. Meg@thelegaltart | June 7th, 2012 at 8:22 am | #

    I used to be bad at taking compliments until a friend told me dismissing a compliment is like handing back a present. Can you find the chilli powder in sydney?

  • 46. Maureen | June 7th, 2012 at 11:10 am | #

    I don’t take compliments well from strangers but I would stand outside John’s office waiting for one from him. Not sure why it’s different. :)

    Love the chicken dish!

  • 47. Joanne T Ferguson | June 7th, 2012 at 11:43 am | #

    YUM!! You have once again inspired me, TRUE!
    This dish is now on the list ‘to do!”
    Accepting compliments is a learned skill, at least it was to me!
    I can now accept compliments MUCH easier now than when was 23! :)

  • 48. tastyfoodsnaps | June 7th, 2012 at 7:52 pm | #

    mmm that looks like its bursting with flavours!

  • 49. Nami | June 8th, 2012 at 2:21 pm | #

    Aww Mr NQN is so sweet. :-) I love this kind of chicken dish! Some days are so cold that this kind of stew-like chicken dish is very comforting!

  • 50. Baker Street | June 8th, 2012 at 5:14 pm | #

    I love everything Basque!!! This looks so flavorful and delicious! :)

  • 51. grace | June 9th, 2012 at 5:04 am | #

    i’m a terrible compliment-receiver! i blush and stammer and probably make the person regret ever doing such a thing. :)

  • 52. joey@FoodiePop | June 9th, 2012 at 9:09 am | #

    I’m always looking for chicken recipes; this looks delightful!

  • 53. Sophie | June 10th, 2012 at 10:21 pm | #

    Mr.NQN loves you deeply! ;) How sweet! :)
    Your Basque chicken dish looks just stunning, mouthwatering & fabulous even! :) Can’t wait to try it!

  • 54. Sophie | June 11th, 2012 at 11:41 pm | #

    I made this chicken dish yesterday evening & it was a huge success with my hubby & me! We also have leftovers!! thanks! :)

  • 55. Not Quite Nigella | June 12th, 2012 at 9:45 am | #

    Hi Meg-That’s a really nice way of looking at it Meg! :) Absolutely, Herbies sells it and you should be able to find it at the supermarket too :)

    Hi Maureen-Hehe isn’t that funny! But yes somehow it is different :) THank you!

    Hi Joanne-THanks so much Joanne! And yes I was so awkward back then (although perhaps still are) :)

    Hi tastyfoodsnaps-Thanks, it was! :)

    Hi Nami-Isn’t he? :) I know, I’m having trouble typing today it is so cold!

    Hi Baker Street-Me too, it’s so spicy and flavoursome :)

    Hi grace-LOL Grace, you are hilarious! :lol: Oh hang on, please accept my compliment! :P

    Hi joey-Oh cool, I hope you like it! :)

    Hi Sophie-Thanks so much Sophie! And thanks for letting me know that you liked it, I’m so glad! :D

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