I’ve recently read the fantastic début novel Vanilla Salt by top Catalan chef Ada Parellada. You can read my review of the novel (and a giveaway if you fancy winning a copy for yourself!) by > clicking here <. Briefly, the book is about a disgruntled Catalan chef whose world is turned upside down with the sudden appearance of a red-headed Canadian foodie. I thoroughly enjoyed the cooking scenes and the first one, on pages 4-5 of the book, transported me straight to a Catalan kitchen. I was inspired to try the recipe described in the text myself, to see if I could turn Parellada’s vivid mouthwatering description into something I could consume and enjoy in my own kitchen.
The apples are ready. He sautés them in a little butter with a sprinkling of sugar until they glow with the golden tones of the setting sun. He then puts them aside in a bowl and, as usual when he makes this dish, can’t resist having a taste. They’re divine, and their intense fragrance pervades the kitchen. The feeling is difficult to describe, but it takes him back to the family kitchen, when he was a little kid and the house rang with laughter.
In a medium-sized casserole he browns the chicken thighs in olive oil and then adds the chopped onion and a clove of garlic. He turns the heat down and lets it all cook slowly. Now it’s time to add a generous dash of brandy, and, as part of the recipe, have a tipple himself, because his communion with the chicken must be complete, body and soul. Perked up by the brandy, the chicken starts singing, at first with great gusto, then finishing with the sweet murmur of a little hymn to spring. After tipping in the brandy and draining his own glass Alex sings too, his renditoin of Lluis Llach: “Pull, pull together and we’ll all be free…”
This is a strange ritual he often indulges in. Each dish has its own song and Lluis Llach is great for chicken with apples. Now he covers the chicken thighs with broth and keeps them simmering. “If we pull together, the tyrant will fall, and bad times will end in no time at all.”
– Vanilla Salt, Ada Parellada (2014)
I confess that although I was very tempted by the description I was sceptical that it would not live up to my expectations. There’s no mention of seasoning, no herbs, no salt and pepper, just apples, butter, sugar, chicken, onions, garlic, brandy and stock. Could this taste as good as the description with such simple ingredients? I’ve never been to Catalonia, I know very little of the area and its cuisine, but I understand, from this book, that simple uncomplicated flavours using fresh produce and good quality ingredients are a must.
I prepared the dish with the novel open beside the cooker. The apples were just finishing when my youngest son, who had been playing outside in the glorious sunshine, came in and remarked, “Mam, that smells really nice! Your chicken and apples smells nice!” So far so good!
The proof was in the eating though, and I served the chicken with apples simply with some freshly harvested steamed Shetland kale. It was superb! Very inexpensive, easy to make and the flavours…. oh goodness, they were a perfect medley of buttery sweet apples and succulent chicken. This delicious dish will be a regular in our household from now on.
Linking up with Read, Cook, eat a literary food challenge by Galina over at Chez Maximka and Chris at Cooking Around the World.
Chicken with Apples
Ingredients
- 6 apples peeled, cored and coarsely chopped
- 35 grams unsalted butter
- 2 generous pinches caster sugar
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 6 chicken thighs
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic finely chopped
- 50 ml brandy (plus one for you!)
- 250 ml chicken stock
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pan over a medium high heat and gently sauté the apples with a sprinkling of sugar until they begin to colour, about 5-7 minutes. Set aside in a bowl.
- In the same pan, heat the olive oil. Brown the chicken fillets on both sides until golden.
- Add the onion and garlic and cook for a further five minutes.
- Pour in the brandy and cook for a few minutes before adding the chicken stock.
- Turn the heat down to medium low, loosely cover the pan with a lid and simmer gently for 25-30 minutes.
SOME OTHER CHICKEN RECIPES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
Slow cooked chicken Italian by Fab Food 4 All
Chicken, Bacon, Mushroom & Crème Fraiche Pasta by Kavey Eats
Barbecued Chicken Drumsticks and Why You Shouldn’t Wash Raw Chicken by My Golden Pear
Chicken Thigh, Sausage and Wild Garlic Stew by Belleau Kitchen
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Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Maya Russell says
Never cooked chicken & apples before. Never thought about it. Looks good.
Debbie Skerten says
Sounds lovely.
bev says
Looks a nice but different combination!
Kate says
An intriguing combination – I’ll look forward to trying it when the apples on my tree are ripe! And I second the Calvados suggestion!
Heather Haigh says
It may seem boring but I really do love chicken. Oddly enough I was only thinking yesterday (having bought a huge bag of apples) of trying chicken with apples – as I do love pork with apples but wanted a change – I will definitely go for it now.
Elizabeth says
I’m a big fan of chicken too. Nothing beats a Sunday roast chicken! Do let me know what you think of the recipe if you try it – I was really pleasantly surprised at how the simple flavours worked so well together.
Heather Haigh says
It was simply lovely. I do love ‘simple’ flavours that just work well. mmmmmm
Emily @amummytoo says
That looks amazing. It’s not a combination I’ve cooked but I can imagine the whole family enjoying it. It looks gorgeous in the pan.
Paul Wilson says
Very nearly apple season!
Jen @ Blue Kitchen Bakes says
Not a combination I’ve tried before but it’s one I’d love to cook though I’d be tempted to get hold of some Calvados to give it a French twist 🙂
Elizabeth says
Oh that sounds rather nice!
Katie Corr says
This looks+ sounds FAB! I’d never think of combining the two but i will now after this, thanks!X
Kate - gluten free alchemist says
What a lovely inspiration! Chicken and apple is such a wonderful combination and this looks like a delightful meal!
Kim Carberry says
That does sound absolutely delicious!! Looks it too….
Elizabeth says
Thanks Kim 🙂 It really is quite lovely and simple to make.
Holly Nelson says
Gah…why am. I a vegetarian!!! That does sound fantastic!
Elizabeth says
Thanks Holly – maybe try a veggie alternative… hrrmm… ponders…
Jan @GlugofOil says
Now this is my kind of food – lovely, simple and I bet really tasty.
Camilla @FabFood4All says
Ooh that does sound good Elizabeth must see if I have some brandy! Thanks for featuring my Slow Cooked Chicken Italian:-)
Galina V says
I love the combination of meat and fruit, and have eaten chicken with apples, though cooked differently. This is a dish I would really enjoy, so flavourful. The description from the book makes me want to read it all, and it’s perfect for our #ReadCookEat challenge. Thank you very much for taking part!
Elizabeth says
It’s a very good book – do enter my giveaway if you fancy a chance at winning one 🙂
Laura says
I never would have put apples with chicken but your description has convinced me otherwise. I’m going to pass this onto my mum because I htink it’s one whe might like come autumn =)
Elizabeth says
Oh I hope you do try it! The combination is positively magical. I think the key is not to overcook the apples – they should retain their shape but have a gorgeous golden colour.
Chris says
Oh, that sounds very lovely to me. Simple is a good thing. Thank you for sharing with#ReadCookEat.
Elizabeth says
Thanks Chris – it was rather good if I do say so myself! We will be eating it fairly frequently in our house, I think!
Kavey says
Oh this looks utterly gorgeous and I love that passage that inspired you! Beautiful!
Elizabeth says
Thanks Kavey 🙂 Isn’t that an evocative passage – I just wanted to jump into the page and start eating!