Pui Caramellizat cu Ceapă și Usturoi (Caramelized Chicken with Onion and Garlic)
A flavorful Romanian dish featuring tender chicken pieces slowly cooked with caramelized onions and garlic until golden brown and succulent. This recipe highlights the natural sweetness of the ingredients and is often served with mămăligă (polenta) or mashed potatoes.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken thighs(bone-in, skin-on, cut into pieces)
- 3 large Yellow onions(thinly sliced)
- 8 cloves Garlic cloves(minced)
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 200 ml Chicken broth
- 100 ml White wine(dry (optional))
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 2 tbsp Fresh parsley(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
💡 Tip: Ensuring the chicken is dry helps achieve a better sear. - 2
Heat the vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken pieces in batches until golden brown on all sides. Remove chicken and set aside.
- 3
Reduce heat to medium. Add the sliced onions to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to caramelize, about 15-20 minutes.
💡 Tip: Low and slow is key for caramelizing onions. - 4
Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- 5
If using, deglaze the pot with white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for a minute.
- 6
Return the seared chicken to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the chicken is tender and cooked through, about 45-50 minutes.
💡 Tip: The sauce should thicken slightly. - 7
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.
💡 Tip: Serve hot with mămăligă, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For deeper flavor, use chicken thighs with skin and bone.
- ✓Don't rush the onion caramelization process; it's crucial for the dish's sweetness.
- ✓If the sauce is too thin, you can remove the chicken and simmer the sauce uncovered for a few minutes to reduce it.
🔄 Variations
- Add a bay leaf during the simmering process for extra aroma.
- A pinch of thyme or rosemary can complement the chicken and onion flavors.
- For a touch of sweetness, a teaspoon of honey or sugar can be added with the onions.