Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 3-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces
  • 3 cups chopped red onions
  • 6 whole allspice
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 28-ounce can whole Italian-style tomatoes, drained, juices reserved, tomatoes chopped
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons (or more) red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • Pinch of sugar
  • 12 ounces perciatelli pasta or spaghetti
  • Freshly grated kefalotyri cheese or Parmesan cheese

Method

  • Heat oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  • Add chicken in batches and cook until brown on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch.
  • Place chicken on platter.
  • Add onions to Dutch oven; saute until tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Add spices; stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Stir in tomatoes and their juices and water.
  • Return chicken to Dutch oven.
  • Cover; simmer over medium-low heat until chicken is very tender, about 35 minutes.
  • Transfer chicken to platter.
  • Tent with foil.
  • Add 2 tablespoons vinegar, tomato paste and sugar to Dutch oven.
  • Simmer until thickened to sauce consistency, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
  • Season with salt, pepper and more vinegar, if desired.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Cover to keep warm.
  • Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite.
  • Drain.
  • Transfer pasta to platter.
  • Top with chicken, sauce and cheese.