Smothered Chicken Over Creamy Cheese Grits

For Brunch, Lunch or Supper.

Many folks advert to this method of cooking every bit ho-hum braise but inwards the south, nosotros telephone vociferation upward this classic slow-simmering every bit a 'smothered' agency of cooking tough cuts of meat or to amend set it, to also tenderize pieces similar the chicken inwards this recipe. It's the same texture you lot larn when you lot wet-braise larger cuts of meat over depression estrus for several hours to accomplish that 'fall-off-the-bone' or 'melt-in-your-mouth' gustation experience. It happens when the elastic connexion tissue breaks downwardly in addition to melts into the pan creating the rich fond thence desired for sauces, or every bit nosotros telephone vociferation upward it, gravy.

Smother: H5N1 homey agency of tenderizing pieces of meat over ho-hum estrus for several hours using a caramelized vegetable reduction. In Southern homes, the flavor is intensified when using bacon fatty to prepare a slightly smoky, salty sweetness flavor into the roux for the gravy.

There is but ane adept technique to larn the smother in addition to that is past times outset applying a good, quick browning of the surface of the meat. The pan must live hot plenty to shape a sizzle on the surface in addition to to run along the meat from excreting likewise much of its juices. Some may know this every bit a adept sear but to a greater extent than importantly than simply a seal of the surface is the genuinely browning to shape a crust, both on the meat in addition to inwards the bottom of the pan. This lays the foundation for a adept smother, for the meat's outer layer in addition to inwards the pan forms the fond that volition prepare the grapheme of sorts of the sauce. To opt out on this pace is to lose out of the most of import flavoring of the smother.

Once the meat is browned in addition to the crust is formed into a caramelized surface of goodness, you're ready to motion on to the 2nd of import flavor pace inwards creating a adept smother: Developing the aromatic vegetable flavor into the pan. This is naught to a greater extent than than a moderate saute of diced vegetables (in the south, most ever onions, bell pepper, garlic or celery) into the fats in addition to fond left inwards the pan from whereby the meats were apace cooked. Once the flavor bits are picked upward from the bottom of the pan from this method of deglazing, a flour thickener is added forming a basic roux. Heat is usually reduced to depression allowing the vegetables to sweat, in addition to the meat is applied on top. Hours after after piece of cake melting away, the vegetables run a most wonderful, full-bodied sauce thank you lot to the time-honored technique of the smother.

Smothered Chicken over Creamy Cheese Grits

serves 4
four chicken pectus cutlets or four chicken thighs
Salt, pepper
Creole or Cajun seasoning
All-purpose flour
Cooking oil, mixed amongst bacon fatty for best flavor
1 tablespoon butter
1 rib celery, diced
1/2 bell pepper, diced
1/2 large sweetness onion, diced
1 loving cup rich chicken stock

Dry the chicken amongst newspaper towel in addition to pound until uniform inwards thickness; the thinner the amend but non thence sparse every bit the pieces interruption apart. Season each side amongst a calorie-free sprinkle of salt, pepper in addition to Creole (or Cajun) seasoning. Dust each side heavily amongst flour. Set aside inwards a unmarried layer.

seasoned browned chicken

Heat a large skillet over medium-high estrus in addition to when hot, add together nearly 2 tablespoons of the petroleum mixture. When shimmering, add together chicken to pan beingness careful non to overcrowd pan. You most probable volition convey to ready inwards 2 batches. Allow to cook, nearly 2 minutes on each side until squeamish in addition to brown; produce non overcook. Add to a greater extent than petroleum every bit needed making certain meat is 'sizzling' inwards pan. Remove to plate in addition to set aside.

vegetable reduction

Begin the vegetable reduction past times forthwith adding butter in addition to when melted, add together vegetables. Cook stirring oftentimes scraping upward the dark-brown bits on the bottom of pan. Continue until vegetables are softened in addition to onions are slightly browned simply about the edges. Allow wet to ready out. Sprinkle nearly 1 tablespoon flour on hand of vegetables in addition to piece of cake stir to mix in. If needed, add together to a greater extent than flour inwards 1/4-teaspoon increments until wet is absorb. Allow to ready a few minutes in addition to piece of cake contain inwards the chicken stock.

Simmer until slightly thicken, cut back estrus to depression in addition to add together chicken on top. Cover amongst tight plumbing fixtures lid in addition to allow ready for nearly thirty minutes or until vegetables convey reduced to by in addition to large liquid. Watch carefully toward the destination in addition to add together to a greater extent than stock or H2O inwards needed.

for the Creamy Cheese Grits

creamy cheese grits

2- 3/4 cups water
1/4 loving cup heavy cream
1 loving cup rock terra firma white grits
1 teaspoon salt
pinch cayenne
1 tablespoon butter
1/3 loving cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

Bring H2O to rapid boil in addition to apace whisk inwards heavy cream, grits in addition to salt. At 2nd simmer, add together cayenne in addition to cut back estrus to depression heat. Cover in addition to ready for twenty minutes stirring often. Taste exam for saltiness in addition to creaminess adding to a greater extent than tabular array salt or H2O if needed. Stir inwards butter until incorporated in addition to and thence slowing stir inwards cheese. Turn off heat.

Serve on warm plates topped amongst smothered chicken in addition to gravy.