July 20, 2020

Chicken, red pepper and olive cacciatore

Chicken, red pepper and olive cacciatore

 

A Mediterranean Winters dish full of flavor.
Bon appetite!

Ingredients

  • 12 (a mix) chicken thighs or drumsticks
  • olive oil for frying
  • 2 onions, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 800 g vine tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or 2 x 400 g tin tomatoes
  • 2 red peppers, seeded and sliced
  • 2 sprigs rosemary, needles chopped
  • 300 ml red wine
  • 120 g jar pitted black olives, drained and halved
  • basil a handful of leaves

 

Method

 

  • STEP 1

Season the chicken pieces all over. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large shallow casserole or frying pan and fry the chicken on both sides until the skin is golden brown, about 10 minutes. You may need to do this in batches. Transfer from the pan onto a plate. Drain most of the fat from the pan, add the onions and garlic, and fry for 8 minutes on a low heat until the onions are soft. Add the tomatoes, peppers, and rosemary and simmer for another 10 minutes until the tomatoes break down. Add the wine and simmer for 20-30 minutes until it thickens and becomes a rich sauce. Add a splash of water if it becomes too thick. Heat the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5.

  • STEP 2

Stir the olives through the sauce, then nestle the chicken back into the pan. If the pieces don’t fit in one layer, transfer the sauce and chicken to a baking dish. Cook in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until cooked through and the meat pulls away from the bone easily.

  • STEP 3

Serves well with wine

 

Honey Lime Chicken and Avocado Rice Stack

By Zina Stone • December 4, 2025
Ingredients 2 tbsp honey Juice and zest of 1 lime 1 tbsp olive oil 1 lb boneless skinless chicken, cubed 1 garlic clove, minced Salt & pepper, to taste 2 cups cooked rice (white or brown) 1 tbsp lime juice 1 tbsp chopped cilantro (optional) 1–2 ripe avocados, mashed Juice of ½ lime Salt & pepper, to taste Instructions Step 1 Marinate the chicken In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, lime juice and zest, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add in the cubed chicken. Toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 15–30 minutes. Step 2 Cook it golden Heat your best skillet for cooking chicken over medium-high. Sear the chicken without stirring for 2–3 minutes, then cook through, about 6–8 minutes total. Temp should hit 165°F. Step 3 Brighten the rice Fluff the warm rice with a fork. Stir in lime juice, salt, and cilantro if you like. Keep it fresh, not heavy. Step 4 Smash the avocados In a bowl, mash the avocados with lime juice, salt, and pepper. Don’t overdo it you want texture. Think creamy with little bites left in. Step 5 Stack it tall Place a ramekin or ring mold on the plate. Spoon in a layer of rice, then avocado, then the honey lime chicken. Press gently, lift the mold. A little tower of joy. Nutrition and Cooking Times Serves: 4 | Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Nutrient Value per serve: Calories: 420kcal | Protein: 32g | Fat: 18g | Carbohydrates: 32g

Freedom Bulletin #307

By Zina Stone • December 4, 2025
In this bulletin...

Healthy one-pan piri piri chicken

By Zina Stone • November 27, 2025
Ingredients 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp dried oregano leaves 1/4 tsp dried c hilli flakes 2 (about 500g) chicken breast fillets, halved horizontally 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 small zucchini, sliced 175g mini capsicums, deseeded, halved 1 tbsp no-added-salt tomato paste 400g can cherry tomatoes 2 tsp white balsamic condiment 140g (2/3 cup) wholemeal couscous 160ml (2⁄3 cup) boiling water 250g green beans, steamed, halved lengthways Lime wedges, to serve Instructions Step 1 Combine paprika, cumin, oregano and chilli. Sprinkle spice mixture over the chicken. Step 2 Heat half the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Cook the zucchini for 1-2 minutes each side or until golden. Transfer to plate. Add chicken to pan and cook for 2-3 minutes each side or until browned and almost cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Step 3 Heat remaining oil in pan over medium heat. Add capsicum. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until begins to soften. Stir through tomato paste. Add tomatoes and 125ml (1 ⁄2 cup) water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer for 6-7 minutes or until slightly reduced. Add chicken, zucchini and balsamic. Simmer for 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Step 4 Meanwhile, combine the couscous and boiling water in a heatproof bowl. Cover and set aside for 3-4 minutes to absorb. Fluff with a fork. Nutrition and Cooking Times Serves: 4 | Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Nutrient Value per serve: Calories: 480kcal | Protein: 30g | Fat: 28g | Carbohydrates: 28g