Napolitan chicken | Photo © CiberCuba Cocina

Neapolitan chicken

Kitchen, Main dish

Preparation Time:

Note:

There are various recipes for Pollo Napolitano or Pollo a la Napolitana. The Neapolitan preparations share a common characteristic in international cuisine: they include tomato, cheese, and are usually gratinée. This recipe meets all three criteria. It is not a common recipe in Cuba; however, I learned it from a Revista Bohemia. This publication used to feature many recipes from Nitza Villapol and other women who have dedicated themselves to the study of Cuban food and diversifying the tastes of Cuban diners. It is a delicious and easy-to-make dish. It is economical but substantial, ideal for a meal where you want to impress. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts (or 4 boneless chicken pieces)
½ lemon
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
½ green pepper
4 tablespoons of oil
½ cup of tomato sauce
6 slices of cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1 bunch of fresh parsley

Instructions:

Cut the breasts into fillets. If you are using boneless pieces of chicken, flatten them out. Season the meat with salt and pepper to your liking, add the lemon juice, and set it aside in the refrigerator.

Sofrito with tomato sauce / CiberCuba Kitchen

Prepare a sofrito with onion, garlic, and pepper. In this case, I used a food processor to finely chop them, but it can also be done with a small brunoise cut. When the sofrito is almost ready, add the tomato sauce, stir, and let it cook for a few minutes until the sauce is thick and shiny. Remove it from the heat and set it aside.

In a skillet, brown the chicken breasts. They should not be overcooked because chicken breast tends to be dry, and you need to keep in mind that they will be cooked again in the oven.

Salsa, golden chicken breast, and onion / CiberCuba Cocina

In a heat-resistant baking dish, place the sauce that you had set aside. Then incorporate the chicken breasts that you just cooked on the grill or in the pan. You can add a layer of sliced onions. Cover everything with cheese slices and place it in the oven at maximum temperature for 5 to 8 minutes, until it is gratinated to your preference. Remember that the time will always depend on the particular characteristics of your oven.

Chicken covered with cheese and oregano / CiberCuba Cocina

Remove the dish from the oven and take it to the table, keeping in mind all the relevant safety measures. These types of containers tend to retain a lot of heat and can damage some surfaces.

Neapolitan chicken / CiberCuba Kitchen

Before serving, add finely chopped parsley and if you wish, you can drizzle a bit of olive oil and add some other aromatic herb that enhances the qualities of this delicious dish.

I hope you enjoy it, and as I always say... Bon appétit!!

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