BLACK AND TAN RECIPES

Steps:

• Pat chicken thighs dry and season well with salt and pepper. In a deep-sided 12-inch skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. When the oil shimmers, add the chicken thighs, skin-side down, and cook undisturbed until nicely browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Flip and brown the other side of the chicken thighs, 4 to 5 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• Pour off and discard all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan and return the pan to medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic, anchovies and red-pepper flakes, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is pale golden and the anchovies have dissolved, about 2 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and stir until dissolved, then stir in the tomatoes and their juices, scraping up any brown bits that have collected at the bottom of the pan. Stir in the olives and capers, then add the chicken back to the skillet along with any juices that have accumulated. Simmer until the flavors meld and the chicken cooks through, 15 to 20 minutes, adding a tablespoon or so of water if the sauce begins to look dry.
• Taste and adjust seasonings accordingly. Scatter with parsley and oregano, if using. Divide chicken among plates or bowls, spooning additional sauce over top.

Steps:

• Finely mince 6 cloves garlic and the ginger with a pinch of salt, plenty of black pepper and crushed red-pepper flakes to taste. Season chicken all over with salt, and rub with the garlic mixture. Marinate for three hours or overnight, refrigerated.
• Finely chop the remaining 6 cloves of garlic. In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat. When it is hot, add the onion, chopped garlic, 2 teaspoons kosher salt and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, until the onion is starting to become translucent. Stir in the fish sauce, then the tomato paste, and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, until the paste and onions have combined and are a shade darker. Stir in 6 cups water, scraping up any browned bits.
• Add the chicken, bring to a boil and turn heat down to a moderate simmer. In a mixing bowl, stir a cup of the cooking liquid into the peanut butter, a splash at a time, to loosen it. Pour the peanut butter mixture into the pot, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the cabbage and carrots, and simmer 10 minutes. Peel and cut the sweet potato and waxy potatoes into 1 1/2-inch chunks, add them and simmer 30 minutes, until the vegetables and chicken are tender and the sauce is like a very thick gravy. (The oil will be separating in the sauce.) If the chicken and vegetables are tender but the sauce is still a little loose, remove them, and let the sauce cook down. Add the chile if using. Taste, adjust seasoning with salt and serve over white rice.