Chicken Thighs with Tasso Cream
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
- Pan Seared Chicken Thighs with Tasso Cream ingredients:
- 6-- chicken thighs
- 1teaspoon salt
- 1teaspoon pepper
- 1teaspoon paprika
- 1/2teaspoon cayenne
- 2tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4cup diced yellow onion
- 2-- green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/4cup diced celery
- 1/4cup diced red bell pepper
- 3cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4cup diced tasso
- 2tablespoons flour
- 1cup chicken stock
- 1tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 2tablespoons butter
- 1/2cup heavy cream
- 1teaspoon hot red pepper sauce
- Smoked Gouda Garlic Grits Ingredients
- 2tablespoons butter
- 1clove garlic, minced
- 3cups whole milk
- 1teaspoon salt
- 1cup quick cooking grits
- 1cup grated Smoked Gouda
- Garnish: sprigs of fresh thyme and additional sliced green onions
Instructions
Preheat oven to 250 degrees
Season chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet (3 quart) over medium high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the chicken thighs, skin side down for 4 minutes and until golden brown. Turn and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
Reduce the skillet temperature to medium. Add the onion, green onion, celery, red bell pepper, garlic and tasso; saute in the pan drippings for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the flour until well blended. Whisk in the chicken stock. Add the thyme and return the chicken thighs to the skillet, skin side up, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. While the chicken is simmering, prepare the Smoked Gouda Garlic Grits.
Smoked Gouda Garlic Grits Preparation: Butter the inside of a 1 1/2 quart covered casserole dish with 1 teaspoon of the butter. Heat a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the remaining butter until melted and stir in the minced garlic for 1 minute. Add the milk, salt and bring to a low boil. Whisk in the grits until smooth and well mixed. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in one cup of the cheese until the cheese melts. Pour the grits in the casserole. Place in preheated oven until ready to serve.
When just about ready to serve, spoon the Smoked Gouda Garlic Grits onto a serving platter, remove the chicken thighs from the skillet and arrange on the grits. Add the butter and cream to the skillet and simmer until the sauce is thickened. Stir in the hot pepper sauce. Spoon the Tasso Cream over the chicken thighs and grits, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and garnish with sprigs of fresh thyme and sliced green onions.
Serves 6
