CHICKEN PUTTANESCA CAPERS ANCHOVIES 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:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Pat chicken dry with paper towels, then season all over with salt.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high until shimmering. Cook chicken, turning occasionally, until it has rendered some of its fat and skin is golden brown all over, 7–10 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. You’ll have a pool of fat left in the pan. Spoon out all but 3 Tbsp. fat from pan. (Use it for roasted potatoes, in cooked bitter greens, or add to stewy beans.)
• Reduce heat to medium and add garlic and anchovies to skillet. Cook, stirring often, until garlic is softened and anchovies have disintegrated, 2–3 minutes. Sprinkle in red pepper flakes, then stir in tomato paste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomato paste begins to split and stick to pan, about 3 minutes. Add olives, wine, capers, bay leaves (if using), and lemon peel and bring to a simmer (still over medium heat). Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the wine has evaporated, 5–7 minutes.
• Snuggle chicken (skin side up) into sauce in a single layer. Pour in 1 cup water and bring to a simmer. Transfer skillet to oven and bake, uncovered, until sauce is thickened and chicken is cooked through, 20–25 minutes (if using whole legs, it’ll take closer to 30–35 minutes). Taste a spoonful of the sauce—it should be plenty salty between the anchovies and capers, so you most likely won’t need to season with more salt.
• Transfer chicken to a platter and spoon sauce over. Drizzle with oil and serve with lemon wedges alongside.