Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from The Gourmet Slow Cooker: Simple and Sophisticated Meals from Around the World by Lynn Alley. For more on slow cooking, click here.
This simple chicken stew draws on the characteristic flavors of Provence: tomatoes, basil, olives, olive oil, and garlic. This dish was traditionally made in an earthenware casserole such as those produced in the Provençal town of Vallauris, located in the Alpes-Maritimes above Cannes. Vallauris has been home to producers of such casseroles for centuries and has been a pottery center in France since the nineteenth century.
This recipe was originally prepared in an oval, 5-quart slow cooker.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Combine the 3/4 cup flour and the salt in a resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken to the bag, several pieces at a time, and shake to coat completely.
Step 2
Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, for 8 to 10 minutes, until browned on both sides. Using tongs, transfer to paper towels to drain, then arrange in the slow cooker.
Step 3
Set the sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the onion and the 2 tablespoons flour. Sauté, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the garlic and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the wine and stir to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Increase the heat to high and add the tomatoes and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring frequently, for 10 to 15 minutes, until some of the tomato liquid evaporates.
Step 4
Pour the onion mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 8 hours, until the chicken is tender. At 3 to 4 hours, the chicken will still be firm and hold its shape. At 6 to 8 hours, the meat will be falling off the bone.
Step 5
Divide the chicken among dinner plates and garnish with the parsley, basil, and olives. Serve immediately.
