Skip to main content

Roberto’s Chicken Piccante

On one of my visits to Roberto’s on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, I picked up this delightfully spicy chicken recipe. It pairs wonderfully with the tomato-and-bread salad on page 94.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

3 1/2-to-4-pound chicken, cut into 10 to 12 pieces (2 wings, 2 legs, 2 thighs, each breast halved, plus neck and back if desired)
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
All-purpose flour, for dredging
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
8 garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
2 large red bell peppers, cut into eighths
6 hot red pickled cherry peppers, drained and halved lengthwise
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup dry white wine

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Season the chicken all over with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Spread the flour on a rimmed plate, and dredge the chicken in flour, tapping off the excess. Heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken and brown on all sides, about 8 to 10 minutes in all.

    Step 2

    Once the chicken is browned, drop the garlic into the empty spaces in the pan, and add the bell peppers and the cherry peppers. Cook until the peppers are caramelized on the edges, about 4 to 5 minutes.

    Step 3

    Move the breast pieces on top of the rest of the chicken and vegetables (to avoid overcooking), and sprinkle everything with the oregano and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Cover, and cook until the chicken and vegetables are deeply caramelized, about 5 minutes.

    Step 4

    Uncover, pour in the white wine, and simmer until the wine is almost cooked away and the chicken is cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes more.

Cover of the cookbook featuring the author with a table full of fresh herbs and vegetables.
Reprinted with permission from Lidia's Italy in America by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali. Copyright © 2011 by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali. Excerpted by permission of Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This easy, one-skillet chicken stroganoff features tender chicken breasts, savory mushrooms, and a creamy Dijon-crème fraîche sauce—perfect for weeknights.
Like Sri Lankan cashew curry and vegan stuffed shells.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.