Ingredients

  • 3 whole chickens
  • 3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
  • 1 yellow onion, julienned
  • 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
  • 1 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
  • 3 cups Tomato Sauce, recipe follows
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, cut into a chiffonade
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup semolina flour
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Kosher salt
  • 24 pieces broccoli rabe
  • 3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 5 cups whole San Marzano tomatoes, plus the liquid from the can
  • 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 8 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
  • 3 cups diced San Marzano tomatoes

Method

  • For the roasted half chickens: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Dry each chicken with paper towels until very dry.
  • With a chef's knife, remove the backbone of each chicken by cutting down both sides of the backbone.
  • Then split each chicken in half by cutting directly down the middle of the breast bone.
  • Rub the chicken halves with the grapeseed oil and then season with the salt and pepper.
  • Arrange the chickens on a rimmed baking sheet.
  • Roast until the internal temperature in the middle of each breast is 155 degrees F., about 20 minutes.
  • Turn the oven to a high broil and cook until the skin is evenly golden brown and crispy, 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Remove the chickens from the oven.
  • Melt the butter in the sheet pan and baste the chicken occasionally while they rest for 10 minutes.
  • (The chickens should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. after resting.)
  • For the cacciatore sauce: Heat the grapeseed oil a saucepan over high heat.
  • Add the onions and garlic, reduce the heat to medium-high and saute until the onions are translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Add the roasted red peppers and saute for another 2 minutes.
  • Add the Tomato Sauce and tomato paste, stir and bring to a simmer.
  • Cook the sauce for 10 to 15 minutes and then add the basil and parsley and cook for another 5 minutes.
  • Season with some salt and pepper.
  • Hold hot for serving.
  • For the semolina polenta: Combine the chicken broth and heavy cream in a small pot and bring to a boil.
  • Slowly whisk in the semolina.
  • Bring the polenta back up to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium.
  • Simmer the polenta while stirring regularly for 20 minutes.
  • Stir in the Parmesan and then season with some salt and pepper.
  • Hold hot for serving.
  • For the broccoli rabe: Bring 1 gallon water and 2 tablespoons salt to a rolling boil in a large pot.
  • Set up an ice bath for shocking the rabe after blanching.
  • Blanch the broccoli rabe in batches: Cook the rabe in the water for 45 seconds to 1 minute and then remove from the water and shock it in the ice bath.
  • Dry the broccoli rabe with a kitchen towel.
  • Heat a saute pan over high heat, add the grapeseed oil and saute the broccoli rabe for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper and then squeeze the lemon juice over the top.
  • For plating: Divide the polenta among 6 plates; drag it from one side of the plate to the other.
  • Heat the cacciatore sauce.
  • Place the chickens in the sauce and simmer for 1 minute before plating.
  • Place a half chicken over the polenta and top with some cacciatore sauce.
  • Lean 4 pieces of broccoli rabe against each chicken.
  • Combine the whole tomatoes, onion, olive oil, 4 cloves of the garlic, the basil, oregano, salt and pepper in a 2-gallon container or large pot and puree with an immersion blender until smooth.
  • Heat a large saute pan over high heat until it begins to smoke.
  • Reduce the heat to medium, add the grapeseed oil and the remaining 4 cloves garlic and quickly saute.
  • Add the diced tomatoes and saute for 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Add the pureed tomato sauce and bring to a simmer.
  • Cook for 15 minutes and then remove from the heat.
  • Bring back to a simmer when you are ready to serve.
  • Yield: 6 servings