A lighter take on Chicken Scarpariello that’s delicious,and also happens to be gluten-free, low-carb and paleo-friendly. I’m thrilled to share this recipe from my friend Jackie Ourman of CAFE (Celiac and Allergy Friendly Epicurean)[1]. I met her last summer at the Big Summer Potluck after tasting her gluten-free coconut cake that was unforgettable! After she shared this chicken recipe with me, I tested it myself and thought it was great – I think you will too!
My name is Jackie Ourman[2], I’m so thrilled to be here on Skinnytaste today. The recipes are amazing and you are some of the best and most engaged readers on any food blog out there. I met Gina last summer and was very inspired by her hard work and genuine nature. I really appreciate the opportunity she is giving me to connect with all of you here.
I recently graduated from culinary school at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City and completed an internship in the test kitchen at Bon Appétit Magazine. So now, I suppose I can officially say I am a trained chef. Pretty exciting!
However, my most important job is being a mom of 3 incredible young boys. Two of my sons have life-threatening food allergies to peanuts, most tree nuts and sesame. One also has celiac disease and I was recently diagnosed with the same. These issues were overwhelming at first, especially when it came to thinking about what I could feed our family. You see, I had always been a big food lover but, I began to fear food and mostly the potential it had to harm my children.
I decided to go to culinary school, regain my passion for food and help my children learn to love it despite all of our dietary restrictions. Once I replaced fear of food with enjoyment again, I decided to share it with others.
Gluten-Free is not a fad for the many people out there who need it for celiac disease or other medical issues. The biggest misconception is it helps you lose weight. As in, “that gluten-free chocolate chip cookie must be healthy, right”? No way! It’s a treat and loaded with sugar, butter and carbs just like any other dessert.
I really appreciate the effort Gina makes to share naturally gluten-free and healthy recipes here on her site. It’s important for all of us to be mindful of the little decisions we make when preparing a meal that can lead to unnecessary calories.
Chicken Scarpariello is one of my favorite Italian dishes. It’s spicy, rich and truly a comfort food. The skinny version is absolutely delicious. I kept the chicken breast on the bone and just pulled off the skin in order to reduce the fat but keep the meat nice and tender. Traditional potatoes were replaced with cauliflower florets. They are strong enough in texture to stand up to the braising process and really enhanced by the seasonings in the dish.
I like things really spicy and this version packs a lot of heat. However, the spice level can easily be modified by reducing the number of cherry peppers, leaving out the extra liquid or even just subbing in red bell peppers and using the light heat from the sausage. Either way, it will still be a very flavorful and rustic dish, which also just happens to be healthy, gluten-free and very allergy friendly. Enjoy!
Skinny Chicken Scarpariello
gordon-ramsay-recipe.com
Servings: 4 • Size: 1 piece chicken, 1 cup vegetables • Old Points: 6 pts • Points+: 7 pts
Calories: 283 • Fat: 12 g • Carb: 9 g • Fiber: 3 g • Protein: 32 g • Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 465 mg • Cholesterol: 83 mg
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 large chicken breast halves, bone in, skin removed
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
- 1 link cooked sweet Italian chicken sausage, sliced thinly on a bias (I used Aidells)
- 1/2 medium head of cauliflower, cut into florets (about 4 cups)
- 1 medium onion, sliced thinly
- 4 cloves of garlic, sliced thinly
- 4 jarred hot cherry peppers, sliced plus 1 tbsp liquid (optional for extra heat)
- 1/3 cup dry white wine (I used Louis Jadot Macon Villages)
- 1 cup reduced sodium chicken stock
- 1 sprig rosemary, needles removed and roughly chopped, plus additional for garnish
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 375°F. Cut chicken in half to make 4 pieces, leaving the bone on.
Heat oil in a large, oven safe sauté pan with straight sides over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and brown 2-3 minutes per side. Remove chicken and set aside.
Lower heat to medium and add onion, chicken sausage, cauliflower florets, garlic and cherry peppers. Sauté, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes until vegetables and sausage start to brown.
Add the white wine, cherry peppers and additional optional liquid. Raise heat and allow to boil for about 2 minutes before adding chicken stock. Add chicken breasts back into pan, bone side down, sprinkle rosemary on top, bring to a boil and then place the pan in the oven, uncovered.
Cook for 20-25 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F.
Remove from oven carefully, with towel or kitchen gloves, serve and enjoy!
References
- ^ CAFE (Celiac and Allergy Friendly Epicurean) (jackieourman.com)
- ^ Jackie Ourman (jackieourman.com)