One-Pot Braised Chicken with Tomatoes, Potatoes and Herbs

We are definitely feeling the cold in Bahrain at the moment and although our winters are short-lived, it is a welcoming change from our searing hot summers. Outdoors we can wear our winter woolies and indoors it is a good time to put the casserole pot to good use and cook piping hot hearty oven-to-table family meals. What I love about one-pot meals, they can be as simple as this Braised Chicken with Tomatoes, Potatoes and Herbs or more elaborate, like Beef Bourguignon. This fuss free one-pot meal takes little time to prepare and as the dish is completely cooked in the casserole pot, there is hardly any washing-up to do.

Use tomatoes that are very ripe, firm tomatoes will not release as much juice and your dish might end up a little dry. During cooking the braising ingredients release tasty juices, some of which are soaked up by the potatoes… making them very flavorsome indeed. The fresh whole chickens available in Bahrain’s markets are not very heavy in weight (Delmon Poultry Company seem to supply the heaviest), so you might need to use two smaller chickens instead.

You may have noticed the little pink accessory in the photographs! These silicone food loops are handy kitchen accessories to have when tying together the legs of a whole chicken or turkey when cooking, also handy for tying up meats and vegetables and are re-usable. Also, if you love one-pot meals, braises and stews I definitely recommend investing in a decent casserole pot, also called a French oven or a Dutch oven. My favourite are the ones you can use on the stove top or oven, and look good enough to place at a table. Although very heavy, I would not be without my large enameled cast iron Le Creuset pot and believe it has been a worthy kitchen investment and with care should last me a life time. Do you have a favourite casserole pot?