This week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe (Chicken Basquaise, p 201) was a perfect dish to share with friends a couple of weekends ago when the weather started to turn autumnal. A slow cooked dish it involves chicken cooked in piperade. Piper-what??? Piperade is a traditional Basque dish – according to Dorie in the Washington Post, an “aromatic mixture of onions, peppers and dried Basque seasonings, good enough to eat on its own. It takes about an hour to prepare, and then can be paired with scrambled eggs for Sunday Supper and as a braising sauce for Chicken Basquaise.” Those dried Basque seasonings? Dried Piment d’Espelette. And if you look carefully, the colours (green, red and white) are reminiscent of the Basque flag.
Dorie suggests removing the skins of the peppers to ensure a smooth, creamy texture for the piperade, though I admit to not taking the time to do this. I didn’t much notice it being a problem though I can certainly see if I had had the time been bothered it would make for a beautiful smooth texture to pair with the chicken.
In any case, this was a pretty and pretty tasty dish that was easy to prepare and was even better the next day. I’ll be making piperade again, for sure.
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We enjoyed this one, too, Mardi. Gorgeous photos!!!
Yes a nice recipe this week!
What a beautiful presentation Mardi. I’ve made chicken Basque and it never looked this pretty. Makes me want to jump in the screen and grab a bite. But who has the time to remove the pepper skins….not moi.
Sam
Wonderful plate presentation Mardi! I didn´t even realized it said to peel the peppers… I should really start paying attention when I read. Have a great weekend!
No worries, we all sometimes go a bit “rogue” on the Dorie recipes!
Beautiful pictures, Mardi!
The color on that chicken is perfect.
Thanks Cher!
Your dish looks gorgeous, so glad to hear I wasn’t the only one who didn’t see the need to remove the pepper skins. When I puree peppers I do, but for anything else, why bother.
I couldn’t agree more!
I didn’t bother peeling peppers or tomatoes either, and I didn’t think it negatively impacted the outcome, either. For the minimal difference in the end product, it’s just not worth my time. I love how you plated this!
Thanks Eileen!
The piperade looks yummy and the contrast with the white rice is so attractive. 🙂
Thanks I liked the idea of the contrast too!
Now that you mention it I forgot that I didn’t remove the skins either but I never even noticed a problem with that. It was all I could do to muster the will to peel the tomatoes…but the peppers too? I love the photo staging in the pan! I’m going to steel..er…use that idea next time we do a similar dish.
NO problem. I love photographing and serving the food in the pan it’s cooked in.
I’ll be very interested to find out if any of us bothered to peel the peppers. I don’t deny that it is probably better, but I just can’t see ever being motivated enough to take that step. Maybe it’s a North American thing. In my experience the Europeans get a little crazy with the peeler around their fruits and veggies. My husband even peels his apples, which I just find bizarre.
Well had it been a peeler, I would have – but roasting them? No…
I’ve learned something new today: piperade! Lovely! I can eat it on it’s own, yes. Sometimes a make fish with something similar, and I always make a double batch of piperade because it is just so delicious the next day! 🙂
Yes it’s pretty versatile I would think.
When I saw the amount of peppers to be used I was certain I would not care for this, but it
was delicious. I am anxious to try this with the eggs sometime, I’m sure it would make
a lovely lite supper. Yours looks perfect.
Yes I am anxious to try with the eggs too!
It is indeed a pretty dish. I skipped the green peppers because I’m not keen on the yellowish colour they eventually take on after such long cooking time. Very autumnal like you said. Can’t wait to try the leftover to see if the flavour deepens overnight.
Sigh. I see the yellow in them now I look at the pictures 🙁 Wish I would have thought of that.
This was a fantastic dish, wasn’t it? I subbed more yellow, orange, and red peppers for the green – my tasters would have rebelled if I’d included green. I like your presentation – it looks so pretty in the bowl.
I wish I had used more colours!
I love the word “autumnal”! Your chicken looks amazing. Such a colorful dinner. I left all the skins on and don’t think it suffered.
Not at all, huh?
Beautiful presentation, Mardi!! It was a really nice recipe! Have a great weekend!
Yeah it was a good one for sure!
Great looking dish! I especially like your garnish.
Thanks – the parsley you mean?
Almost looks too good to eat but can see why it was thoroughly enjoyed.
So good Paula!
Your preparation of this dish looks fabulous! We really enjoyed this & would like to try the Tuna Steak version as well.
I didnt peel a thing and we loved it! 🙂 As always you seem to elevate the food with your photos. Love the touch of greenery! 🙂