The ‘easy supper’ is one of the celebrity chef’s favourites
Mary Berry(Image: BBC)
Italian cuisine is arguably the best in Europe – possibly the world. And one of the greatest regions in the country for its food is Tuscany. Tuscan cuisine is known for its simple, rustic, and seasonal dishes, emphasizing fresh, high-quality ingredients like olive oil, legumes, and seasonal vegetables.
It’s a form of ‘cucina povera,’ or ‘poor cooking,’ focusing on making the most of what’s available locally and minimising waste. While not known for elaborate sauces or complex spices, Tuscan food shines with the flavours of the land.
The Great British Bake Off’s Mary Berry has shared her recipe for Tuscan chicken. Taking under half an hour to prepare and 30 minutes to an hour to cook, this classic regional dish is perfect for both weeknights and the weekend.
The BBC Food website, where the recipe was originally published, states: “Based on a classic creamy chicken dish, Tuscan chicken is one of Mary Berry’s favourites when she needs an easy supper. It’s lovely served with potatoes, rice or pasta.”
To begin making the dish, place six large bone-in chicken thighs in a bowl. Add two tablespoons of plain flour and two teaspoons of paprika, seasoning well with salt and pepper. Toss together to coat the chicken.
Heat two tablespoons of olive or sunflower oil in large, deep frying pan over a high heat. Add the chicken and fry for three to four minutes on each side, until browned and crisp. Set aside.
Add one large, finely chopped onion and a large red pepper, finely chopped and deseeded, to the unwashed pan and fry for four to five minutes over a medium heat, until soft (you may need to add a little extra oil).
Add two crushed garlic cloves and fry for 30 seconds.
Stir in two teaspoons of tomato purée, 30g sun-blushed tomatoes, 150ml white wine and 150ml chicken stock.
Bring to the boil then return the chicken to the pan along with any resting juices. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes, until tender.
Add 150ml each of double cream and baby spinach and stir until wilted. Remove from the heat, sprinkle in 55g Parmesan and serve piping hot.
Mary Berry shared some tips for the recipe. She said: “Sun-blushed tomatoes are sometimes sold as semi-dried tomatoes, slow roasted tomatoes or sun soaked tomatoes.
“If you can only find smaller chicken thighs, you might want to add a few extra (they often come in packs of eight in supermarkets). Or use chicken breasts if you prefer.”This dish freezes well.”
For more meals which you can make at home, see our ‘recipes’ page by clicking here.