Courgette caponata with thyme and chicken garlic


A SICILIAN inspired vegetarian sauce with capers and sultanas, this version is served with lean, griddled chicken.

Serves: four
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 55 mins

Ingredients
  • 4 garlic cloves , thinly sliced
  • few thyme sprigs, leaves picked
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 red onions , finely sliced
  • 3 celery sticks, thickly sliced on the diagonal
  • 4 courgettes , halved lengthways and cut into chunks, on the diagonal
  • 400g can chopped tomato
  • 2 tsp caper
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 3 tbsp sultana
  • 4 skinless chicken breasts
Method

STEP 1
Put one-quarter of the garlic, the thyme and some seasoning in 2 tsp of the olive oil and set aside.

STEP 2
Heat the remaining oil in a pan. Tip in the onions and celery, and cook for around 10 mins until soft. Add the courgettes and the rest of the garlic, and fry for a few mins to soften. Add the tomatoes, ½ can water, capers, vinegar, sultanas and seasoning. Gently simmer for around 20 mins until the juices have thickened and the vegetables are tender.

STEP 3
Meanwhile, cut the chicken breasts in half to open up like a book. Place them between 2 layers of baking parchment and flatten a little by bashing gently with a rolling pin. Heat a griddle pan and rub the chicken with your flavoured oil, discarding the garlic. Cook for around 3 mins each side, or until cooked through – you may have to do this is batches, depending on the size of your pan. Cut the chicken into strips and serve alongside the courgette caponata.

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