Chicken In Creamy Tomato Sauce Is An Easy Dish That's Company-Worthy

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Washington Post

It takes time to adjust to living in a new city. January marks the three-year anniversary of my move to Washington, and I finally feel like I've fully settled in. I was often ambivalent about the move in the beginning, but now I can say with confidence that I really enjoy being in DC, and that's largely thanks to the community I've cultivated.

While I am fortunate to have a good number of close friends across the country, I didn't arrive with many in my new home. Making friends takes time - hundreds of hours of time spent together for an acquaintance to become a close friend, even.

An easy way to accrue those hours is by doing everyday, ordinary activities together, such as sharing a meal. If you're looking to build community, or deepen the relationships you already have, invite someone over for dinner and serve something simple but flavorful, like this creamy tomato chicken recipe.

"Inviting someone over for dinner” is not the same thing as "hosting a dinner party.” The latter can often feel like a big to-do requiring a picture-perfect tablescape and a pristinely clean home (for me, at least). The former is a much more casual and laid-back affair, with whatever dishes are clean and maybe a pile of laundry in the corner. And in terms of the food itself, there's no need for anything particularly elaborate - this chicken recipe, which comes together in half an hour, would be right at home.

Simply seasoned boneless, skinless chicken breasts are cooked in a skillet just until browned on each side. In that same skillet, you begin building the sauce by sautéing shallots, followed by garlic, dried herbs and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a background note of spice.

A couple tablespoons of tomato paste add a boost of umami, plus sweetness and acidity, which are buoyed by dry spirits that gets reduced to concentrate the flavor. Heavy cream finishes the luscious sauce, to which the chicken is added to finish cooking all the way through. A sprinkling of chopped parsley adds a verdant, refreshing flourish.

It's a relatively simple set of ingredients - many of which you probably already have in your pantry - but one taste, and you'll see that this combination punches above its weight in flavor. And it's aesthetically pleasing to boot. (I've never seen more excited responses to a recipe test photo I shared on social media.) Boil some pasta, rice or another grain; steam or roast your favorite vegetables; and all that's missing are new acquaintances, old friends, roommates or family to join you at the dinner table for a few moments of connection.

"Research shows close relationships are essential to a healthy life,” Post reporter Teddy Amenabar wrote. "People with a network of close, supportive relationships are better able to deal with bouts of anxiety and depression. The working theory is that close friendships help us regulate our stress during challenging moments.”

Every day brings new challenges, but my resolution is a simple and rewarding one: Invite people over for dinner more often to help me - help us - get through.

The sauce for the chicken is luscious and full of flavor. (Photo by Peggy Cormary for The Washington Post; food styling by Carolyn Robb for The Washington Post)

Chicken Breasts in Creamy Tomato Sauce

This recipe features boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked in a skillet with a creamy tomato sauce. The sauce is flavored with shallots, garlic, herbs, and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a touch of spice. The entire recipe comes together in just about half an hour, making it suitable for any night of the week.

4 servings
Total time: 30 minutes.
Storage note: Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

INGREDIENTS

-- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
-- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2 pounds total)
-- Fine salt
-- Freshly ground black pepper
-- 2 medium shallots (6 ounces total), halved and thinly sliced
-- 2 garlic cloves, minced or finely grated
-- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
-- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
-- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
-- 3/4 cup chicken broth with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice, and a pinch of sugar
-- 1 cup heavy cream
-- Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, for serving
-- Cooked pasta, rice or other grain, for serving

DIRECTIONS

In a large (12-inch) skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat the oil until shimmering. Set a large plate or platter and a lid for the skillet or sauté pan near your workspace.

Pat the chicken dry, sprinkle on both sides with salt and pepper, then add to the skillet and cook until golden brown on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes per side. (The chicken may not be fully cooked at this point.) Transfer the chicken to the prepared plate or platter.

Add the shallots to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes, if using, and cook, stirring once or twice, until fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds. Stir in the tomato paste until evenly incorporated.

Add the broth, scraping up any browned bits at the bottom of the skillet, and cook until reduced by about half, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the cream. Taste, and season the sauce with salt and pepper, as desired.

Return the chicken, along with any accumulated juices, to the skillet and bring to a simmer. Partially cover the skillet with a lid, reduce the heat to medium and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 165 degrees, about 5 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through. Remove from the heat. Sprinkle the chicken with parsley and serve hot with pasta, rice or another grain.

Substitutions: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts >> boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Shallots >> any type of onion. Italian seasoning blend >> your favorite dried herb, or a mix. White spirits >> chicken broth or stock with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice, and a pinch of sugar. Heavy cream >> crème fraîche. Parsley >> basil. Want more vegetables? >> Stir spinach or chard leaves into the sauce until wilted just before returning the chicken to the pan.

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