CHICKEN SMOTHERED IN ROASTED GARLIC

CHICKEN SMOTHERED IN ROASTED GARLIC image

Yield 4 people

Number Of Ingredients 16

Roasted Garlic (recipe follows)
2 cups vegetable or olive oil
1 chicken (about 3 pounds), cut into 8 pieces
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Cajun Magic Poultry Magic, in all
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups finely chopped onions
3 bay leaves
1 cup finely chopped green bell peppers
3 1/2 cups peeled, chopped tomatoes
1 cup tomato sauce
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 1 12 teaspoons dried basil leaves
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
3 cups chicken stock or water
1/2 teaspoon salt
Hot cooked rice or pasta
35 unpeeled garlic cloves

Steps:

Make Roasted Garlic; reserve To make Roasted Garlic, place unpeeled garlic cloves on baking sheet or in shallow baking pan. Do not crowd. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven until outer leaves are dry looking and edges start to turn brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool naturally and peel. Heat oil inlarge skillet over high heat. Season chicken with 1 tablespoon of the Poultry Magic. Blend flour and 2 teaspoons of the Poultry Magic in another container. Dust chicken pieces with seasoned flour. Add chicken pieces to hot oil (large pieces and skin side down first) and brown 3 to 4 minutes on each side. When brown (chicken should not be fully cooked), remove chicken pieces from skillet and drain on paper towels. Pour off all but 1/4 cup of oil. Reheat skillet and oil over high heat and add onions. Reduce heat to medium, add 2 teaspoons Poultry Magic and bay leaves; cook until onions are brown, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add bell peppers and cook 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, increase heat to high and cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato sauce and basil and cook about 1 minute. Add Roasted Garlic and cook about 1 minute. Stir in brown sugar; cook about 3 minutes. Add remaining Poultry Magic; cook about 1 minute, then stir in the stock. Return chicken pieces to skillet and bring to a boil. Simmer uncovered, about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep from sticking. Add salt and cook about 1 minute more. Remove bay leaves before serving. Serve with rice or pasta.