July 20, 2020

Chicken, red pepper and olive cacciatore

Chicken, red pepper and olive cacciatore

 

A Mediterranean Winters dish full of flavor.
Bon appetite!

Ingredients

  • 12 (a mix) chicken thighs or drumsticks
  • olive oil for frying
  • 2 onions, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 800 g vine tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or 2 x 400 g tin tomatoes
  • 2 red peppers, seeded and sliced
  • 2 sprigs rosemary, needles chopped
  • 300 ml red wine
  • 120 g jar pitted black olives, drained and halved
  • basil a handful of leaves

 

Method

 

  • STEP 1

Season the chicken pieces all over. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large shallow casserole or frying pan and fry the chicken on both sides until the skin is golden brown, about 10 minutes. You may need to do this in batches. Transfer from the pan onto a plate. Drain most of the fat from the pan, add the onions and garlic, and fry for 8 minutes on a low heat until the onions are soft. Add the tomatoes, peppers, and rosemary and simmer for another 10 minutes until the tomatoes break down. Add the wine and simmer for 20-30 minutes until it thickens and becomes a rich sauce. Add a splash of water if it becomes too thick. Heat the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5.

  • STEP 2

Stir the olives through the sauce, then nestle the chicken back into the pan. If the pieces don’t fit in one layer, transfer the sauce and chicken to a baking dish. Cook in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until cooked through and the meat pulls away from the bone easily.

  • STEP 3

Serves well with wine

 

By Zina Stone March 26, 2026
Ingredients 700–800g chicken breast (raw) 2 cups cooked lentils 3–4 small beetroot (about 400g total) 6–8 cups rocket (arugula) or spinach 2 cucumbers (sliced) 1 small red onion (thinly sliced) 2 tsp olive oil (total) Juice of 1–2 lemons Spice rub 2 tsp turmeric 2 tsp paprika 3 garlic cloves (minced) Salt + black pepper Method Step one - Cook The Chicken Coat chicken with spices and garlic. Grill, bake, or pan-cook with minimal oil until cooked through. Slice. Step two - Prepare The Beetroot Roast at 200°C for ~30–40 min (or use pre-cooked), then slice. Step Three - Build The Bowl Divide greens, lentils, beetroot, cucumber, and onion across 4 bowls. Top with protein Add sliced chicken evenly. Step four - Dress It Lightly Drizzle olive oil and lemon juice over each bowl. Step five - Serve & Enjoy Toss lightly if desired, or keep layered for presentation. Serve immediately while the chicken is warm for the best flavour. Nutritional Information & Cooking Times Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 35 - 40 minutes 450 kcal | 7g Fat | 53g Protein | 37g Carbohydrates
By Zina Stone March 19, 2026
Ingredients 100g smoked salmon ½ large avocado, sliced 2 boiled eggs (soft or hard, halved) 1 cup baby spinach or mixed leafy greens ½ cup cucumber, sliced ¼ cup asparagus (lightly steamed or raw shaved) 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds (optional) Salt & black pepper to taste Fresh dill or parsley (optional) Method Step one - Boil the eggs Bring water to a boil, add eggs and cook: 6–7 min for soft-boiled / 9–10 min for hard-boiled. Cool, peel, and halve Step two - Prepare greens Wash and dry spinach/greens, place in bowl. Step Three - Prep veggies Slice avocado and cucumber. Lightly steam asparagus if desired. Step four - Assemble bowl Arrange smoked salmon, eggs, avocado, cucumber, and asparagus over greens. Step five - Dress it Drizzle olive oil and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper. Step six - Finish & serve Add herbs and pumpkin seeds, then serve. Nutritional Information & Cooking Times Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 7–9 minutes (for boiling eggs + optional asparagus) Total time: ~15–18 minutes 620 kcal | 48g Fat | 37g Protein | 11g Carbohydrates
By Zina Stone March 5, 2026
Ingredients 250 g fresh sardines, cleaned and patted dry 1–2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Sea salt, to taste Freshly cracked black pepper Instructions Step 1 - Heat the pan Place a non-stick or stainless-steel pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and allow it to warm (not smoke). Step 2 - Cook the sardines Lay the sardines gently into the pan in a single layer. Cook for 2–3 minutes per side, until the skin turns lightly golden and releases easily from the pan. Step 3 - Season simply Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked black pepper while cooking or just after removing from the pan. Step 4 - Serve immediately Transfer to a plate and enjoy warm. Optional: If you're not doing an offical sardine fast, a great addition is to serve with fresh lemon with added chilli and parsley flakes. Nutrition and Cooking Times | Cook time: 5-7 minutes Serves: 1-2 Nutrient Value (per serving): Calories: 520cal | Protein: 62g | Fat: 38g | Carbohydrates: 0g |