There are few things better than a hearty stew on a cold day. This chicken and chickpea stew, served with a green olive salsa and topped with crisp chicken skin, is the perfect way to stay warm this winter. Pan-seared chicken is added to the sautéed mirepoix, then simmered with tomato, chickpeas and chicken stock until tender.
Remove the skin and excess fat from the chicken thighs then season them well with salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Reserve the chicken skin and set aside
Heat a large pot over medium heat, then add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sear the chicken on both sides until golden brown, around 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean plate. Chop up the chicken thighs into smaller pieces
Preheat the oven to 180°C
To the same pot, add the mirepoix of onion, carrot and celery then cook for a couple of minutes until tender and fragrant. Add in the garlic along with the smoked paprika and cook for an additional couple of minutes. Add in the tomato paste then stir to coat the vegetables, and repeat with the flour
Add back the chicken thighs, then the tin of chopped tomatoes and chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper then leave the stew to simmer for around 20 minutes on a low heat
Take the chicken skin and place it between two sheets of parchment paper, flattened between two baking trays. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the skin is crisp and golden. Season with salt then set aside for later
Meanwhile, add all of the ingredients for the green olive salsa to a food processor, except for the olive oil. Pulse the mix until everything is finely chopped, almost a paste, then add in the olive oil in small increments. Season with salt and pepper to taste then reserve until needed
After 20 minutes of cooking, add in the rinsed chickpeas and chopped basil
Cook for an additional five minutes then add in the lemon juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed
Serve the stew topped with the green olive salsa, a couple of spoonfuls of ricotta, fresh basil leaves, a sprinkle of chilli flakes, lemon zest and that crispy chicken skin
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