Chicken Cacciatore

Trim any excess fat off the chicken thighs. Tuck the skin under and tie into neat bundles with kitchen string. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large sauté pan. Season the chicken and sauté until a good golden colour on all sides. Do this in batches if necessary. Transfer to a plate.

Spoon off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat. Add the onion, carrot, bacon, oregano, garlic and capers and cook for 5 minutes over a medium heat.

Add the wine, stirring to release the sticky bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the stock and chicken along with any resting juices back to the pan and turn to coat in the sauce. Add the tomatoes. Season, cover and simmer gently for 25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. A simmer mat is perfect for gentle stove-top cooking.  To test, pierce the thickest part of the thigh with a skewer and the juices should run clear.

Transfer the chicken to a serving platter. If there is a lot of liquid in the pan, place over a high heat and boil until reduced and syrupy. Stir in the flat-leaf parsley and spoon the sauce over the chicken.

Serve with Crisp Baked Potatoes with Red Capsicum.