18 November 2016

Italian Baked Chicken with Potatoes

You might think that this dish looks and tastes very similar to Chicken Afritada that most Filipino loves cooking in instant tomato sauce. Trust me, it's not. It definitely has that Italian kick to it, not that I know a lot about their cuisine. Thanks to McCormick's Italian seasoning, oregano powder and dried basil leaves. Also, this Italian Baked Chicken used fresh tomatoes. They are small, red and juicy resulting to thick and fruity sauce. Topping it with quick-melting cheese in the last five minutes of its cooking time in the oven has sealed this dish in comforting perfection.


My little foodie, Sophia brought this in school once for lunch and proudly told me she finished it! She even commented that she liked chewing the soft tomatoes. I felt accomplished - cooking something that I just tried for the first time and having the kid finished it. Win-win! So I thought of sharing it with you all, because I believe that sharing is caring. Hehe, bagong-bago.

Anyway, this is inspired by Recipe Tin Eats' recipe of the same name. But since I don't have canned cherry tomatoes, I just used the small native ones that can be bought in the palengke. Also, I substituted apple cider vinegar for white wine, Eden Melt Cheese instead of mozzarella and medyo maraming differences ang pagkaluto namin. I'm sure it could have tasted a lot different if I used those but hello, I live on a budgeted life. Haha! Oks lang naman, super sarap pa rin naman nito! In fairness, pabonggahin mo lang the serving dish that you'll use, pwede na itong ipanghanda sa Christmas. Try it! 


Ingredients:

- half kilo thigh part of chicken, cut into three
- olive oil for frying and sauteeing
- 10 pieces very red and juicy tomatoes
- 3 pieces medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 1 medium onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- half bar of Eden Melt cheese
- salt and pepper (depends on your preference)
- 1/8 cup apple cider vinegar 
- McCormick Italian Seasoning, Oregano Powder and dried Basil (around half a teaspoon each)
- fresh basil leaves


Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350F / 180C.
2. Pat dry chicken cuts with paper towel then season with salt and pepper.
3. Brown both sides in olive oil. Make sure it  won't be fried completely so it won't dry since you'll still be baking it. Set them aside on a plate once you're done. Please don't drain excess oil in paper towel. It'll make the skin soggy.
4. In a separate pan or pot, pour olive oil. Saute onion, tomatoes, bell pepper and potatoes along with the rest of the ingredients except for the cheese. Leave some fresh basil leaves as well for garnish.
5. Once the tomatoes become soft and the potatoes have changed its colour, arrange the chicken in a baking dish and pour the Italian sauce. 
6. Bake it for 30 minutes. 
7. Remove from oven and place blocks of cheese on top. Bake for 5-8 minutes more until cheese melts. Let it rest for a minute or two before garnishing with fresh basil leaves. 
8. Serve with rice because kanin is life! 

I would love to know how you did yours if you'll try this by tagging me on Instagram or Facebook! You can also use the hashtag #RecipesbyRD. Happy cooking! 

22 comments:

  1. Waaah! Natakam ako. Italian tapos baked Chicken and may potatoes pa! I'd love to try this. Hopefully next week. Bibili muna ako ng McCormick's Italian seasoning since I already have here the Oregano. Bookmarking this! :D

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  2. this is new to me, I'll try this soon.

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  3. Looks really good. I just might try it this when I find time during Christmas break. I love that it has loads of potatoes and tomatoes. My kind of dish!

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  4. I love Italian dish. Will definitely bookmark this and hopefully make this for Christmas or New Year.

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  5. ZOMG it does look so yummy! I love any kind of cheese - may it be mozzarella or Quick Melt so it's not an issue for me (nor for anyone else in my family haha!). I'm curious about the Italian seasoning, too.

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  6. Thanks for sharing this recipe, Denise! I'll try it!

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  7. Would love to try this at home. Surely the boys would enjoy our lunch or dinner. They are easily pleased if we have new menu on the table.

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  8. Grabe! Natakam ako.. looks delish! Would love to try it too! :)

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  9. Interesting! I'll try it pero I don't think I will use Eden cheese, baka mozzarella para mas milky and gooey.

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    1. Yes, the original recipe used mozzarella; I just didn't have budget for it when I cooked this. Hehe. But yes, better talaga if mozzarella! :)

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  10. This dish looks yummy! I wish I know how to cook. for the mean time, I print the recipe and give it to ate so she can re-create this for us. Thanks for sharing :)

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  11. I love experimenting in the kitchen and this looks like something i want to try! Sana magustuhan ng kids as they really like Afritada Pinoy style.

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  12. This looks yum and it has 2 of my favorites ~ chicken and potatoes! I wonder if I can cook it without an oven as I do not have one. I guess it is high time I got one! Haha! :D

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  13. Looks yummy! Ma-try nga mamaya. :) I'll buy italian seasoning muna.

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  14. Wow, it looks delish! Something new to try for Media Noche. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Something new to try! We love chicken and I like that it's a baked dish.

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  16. I always see that Italian seasoning in the grocery but haven't tried it yet. I wonder how it tastes like. I will have to try your recipe sometime. :)

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  17. Im excited to try McCormicks Italian Seasonings! Ill try your recipe, too! :D

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  18. This looks so delicious, have to get this Italian seasoning in my trip to the grocery so I can try it myself.

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