Chicken Cataplana

Neuza Costa

10 May, 2023

Cataplana is a typical dish from the Algarve, usually made with fish and seafood, but it can also be made with meat.
You can substitute the chicken with pork leg cut into cubes.
In this case, reduce the cooking time for the meat by half.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken legs cut in half or a small chicken cut into pieces
• 500 g (1.1 lbs) of clams soaked in cold water for 2 hours
• 12 thawed or fresh shrimps
• 6 chopped garlic cloves
• Salt
• Piri-piri (Portuguese chili pepper)
• 1 heaping teaspoon of sweet paprika, preferably smoked
• 3 bay leaves
• Sprigs of fresh thyme
• Lemon juice
• 6 tablespoons of olive oil
• 5 g (0.18 oz) of meat chorizo cut into small cubes
• 1 onion cut into half-moon slices
• 1 bunch of parsley
• ½ green bell pepper cut into strips
• 2 ripe tomatoes cut into small cubes
• 2 level tablespoons of tomato paste
• 200 ml (6.8 fl oz) of white wine

Instructions

1. 1
   Season the chicken with salt.

   Mark as done
2. 2
   Add the garlic, sweet paprika, piri-piri to taste, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves.

   Mark as done
3. 3
   Drizzle with lemon juice and mix well.

   Mark as done
4. 4
   Finely chop the parsley.
   Reserve the chopped parsley leaves and add the chopped stems to the chicken.

   Mark as done
5. 5
   Mix the parsley stems with the chicken and finally, add the white wine.
   Cover and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.

   Mark as done
6. 6
   In the cataplana, heat the olive oil and the chorizo.

   Mark as done
7. 7
   Stir and when it is hot, add the onion and bell pepper.
   Stir and sauté until the vegetables begin to wilt.

   Mark as done
8. 8
   Add the diced tomatoes to the sautéed vegetables.
   Stir and cook until the tomatoes begin to break down.

   Mark as done
9. 9
   Add the drained chicken pieces.
   Cook the meat for a few minutes to brown it.

   Mark as done
10. 10
    Add the tomato paste and the marinade to the meat.
    Cover and cook over high heat for 20 minutes.
    If it is too strong, reduce the heat.

    Mark as done
11. 11
    After this time, open the cataplana and add the seafood.
    Cover and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.

    Mark as done
12. 12
    After 5 minutes, open the cataplana, sprinkle with the chopped parsley, and serve immediately.

    Mark as done

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