Giada's Chicken Spezzatino (stew)

Karamia's Note:

This Italian stew makes a great, filling, healthy supper. Serve with biscuits to dip in. Adapted from Everyday Italian by Giada De Laurentiis.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper, plus more to taste
• 14 1/2 ounces chopped tomatoes, undrained
• 14 ounces reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaf, torn
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 chicken breasts, with ribs (about 1 1/2 lbs)
• 15 ounces kidney beans, rinsed and drained

Directions:

1. Saute celery, carrots and onion in a large saucepan/stockpot in oil over medium heat until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Stir in salt, pepper, tomatoes, broth, basil, tomato paste, bay leaf, and thyme.
3. Add chicken breasts with ribs and press them down to submerge under the liquid and bring liquid to a simmer.
4. Reduce heat and gently simmer the chicken, turning them over often for about 20 minutes, or until chicken breasts are almost cooked through.
5. Add kidney beans and simmer for 10 more minutes, or until chicken is cooked all the way through.
6. Take chicken out of saucepan and let cool 5 minutes, then cut chicken into bite-size pieces and discard bones and skin.
7. Discard bay leaf and put chicken pieces back into stew and bring back to a simmer, adding salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve with biscuits for dunking and enjoy!

Reviews

[Fluffy]

This was a very good stew. I did add a bit more tomato paste than the recipe called for because I thought it was a bit runny.

[Babs7]

Excellent Italian stew! I originally forgot to add the kidney beans and it still tasted good but I went back and added the beans it tasted even better! The kidney beans help to make it a complete and filling stew. The basil and bay leaf add good flavor to the stew. Next time I may add a little Italian seasoning and let it simmer a little longer. Thanks for the delicious stew Karamia1