Garlic Chicken with Serrano Ham Recipe

Receta de Pollo al Ajillo con Jamón Serrano

40 Minutes

4 servings

Ingredients

3 lbs chicken (whole or pre-cut, skin on and bone in)
8 garlic cloves, peeled, thickly sliced
2 oz diced Serrano ham
3 tbsp olive oil
1 bay leaf
1 sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme (or both)
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1/2 tsp Pimentón de La Vera mild smoked paprika
1/2 cup dry sherry wine or dry white wine
1/2 cup chicken broth
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Nutritional Facts

Calories 706
Total Fat 25.6 gr (33%)
Saturated Fat 6.2 gr (31%)
Cholesterol 279 mg (93%)
Sodium 1534 mg (67%)
Total Carbohydrates 3 gr (1%)
Fiber 0.5 gr (2%)
Sugars 0.3 gr
Protein 109.2 gr
Vitamin D 0%
Calcium 5%
Iron 21%
Potassium 15%

* Percent Daily Values are based on 2000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

Garlic chicken was a favorite dish when we lived in El Puerto de Santa María in Andalucía. The browned chicken has a delicious garlic flavor and the jamón adds a salty ham accent. Don’t forget the Pimentón de La Vera smoked paprika, it makes the dish. This recipe calls for a whole chicken, but you can amend it to use just thighs, breasts or wings.

Steps

If using whole chicken, divide the chicken into small pieces, splitting the thighs and breasts. Discard any trimmings like wing tips. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and set aside. In a large (~15 in.) flameproof casserole dish, preferably a cazuela , heat 3 tablespoons of oil over medium heat and sauté the garlic until golden. Do not allow garlic to burn or it will become bitter. Remove garlic and reserve. Sear the chicken in hot oil until well browned on all sides and almost done, about 15 minutes. Add the jamón, sherry, bay leaf, rosemary and/or thyme, parsley, reserved garlic and paprika. Squash the garlic lightly to release its flavor. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until sherry is reduced by half. Add the chicken broth, carefully scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits. Cover and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Serve the chicken with some of the olive oil sauce, roasted potatoes and warm crusty rolls .