Description
Spanish Chicken in Bravas Sauce is a flavorful and hearty dish featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a smoky paprika and tomato sauce with olives and white beans. Perfectly baked to meld the rich flavors, this dish brings a traditional taste of Spain to your table and pairs wonderfully with rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 chicken thighs
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Sauce
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper (red pepper), sliced
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
- 400g / 14oz canned chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 cup / 125ml water
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- salt to taste
- 240g / 1 cup white beans such as cannellini or chickpeas, canned
- 90g / 1/2 cup green olives or black olives, any kind
- 2-3 sprigs flat leaf parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) to prepare for baking the chicken in the sauce.
- Brown Chicken: Sprinkle the chicken thighs evenly with smoked paprika and salt on both sides. Heat olive oil in a skillet and brown the chicken thighs until golden but not fully cooked, cooking in batches to avoid overcrowding. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: Using the same skillet, add chopped onion, sliced red bell pepper, and sliced garlic. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes to soften the vegetables.
- Add Spices and Herbs: Stir in the smoked paprika and thyme leaves, cooking for an additional 5 minutes to develop flavors.
- Make Sauce: Pour in the canned chopped tomatoes, water, red wine vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens. Stir in the olives and white beans.
- Combine and Bake: Place the browned chicken thighs on top of the sauce in the skillet or transfer everything to a baking dish. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 40 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped flat leaf parsley over the dish and serve hot, ideally over cooked rice to soak up the delicious bravas sauce.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts, but thighs provide more flavor and moisture.
- If you prefer a spicier sauce, add a pinch of cayenne pepper along with the smoked paprika.
- Use canned whole tomatoes if chopped tomatoes are not available and roughly chop them before adding.
- White beans can be replaced with chickpeas or butter beans based on preference.
- Serve with crusty bread or crusty rice for a fuller meal.
- Ensure not to overcrowd the pan when browning chicken to get a nice golden crust.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
