A Mediterranean Stew

One of the things I have always done with little bits and pieces is to turn them all into a soup or a stew. It’s a deliciously creative way of using everything up and extending it to feed more people. We used to do that all the time in my restaurant management days, and I still do it today. 

We had a a little bit of chicken, a little bit of sausage, a little bit of spinach so I mixed them all together, with a few other goodies and made a delicious Mediterranean stew. I made it even more Mediterranean by adding some stuffed grape leaves and pita bread on the side, with a glass or two of wine.

Mediterranean Stew

1 1/2-2 lbs chicken

flour, salt & pepper for coating the chicken

1 lb sausage, sliced

1 can of artichoke hearts, drained and quartered

1-2 cups mushrooms, sliced

1 TBSP garlic

1 onion, diced

2 cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

8 oz spinach, chopped

3-4 tomatoes, diced

2 cups chicken broth

1 -2 tsp oregano

1-2 tsp basil

1 tsp marjoram

salt & pepper to taste

Peruvian peppers, optional

olive oil and butter for cooking

lemon olive oil, optional

Mix the flour, salt and pepper together and coat the chicken. Get a skillet hot and add the olive oil and butter. Cook the chicken for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Once the chicken is browned, removed it from the heat and keep warm.

Let the chicken cool enough to cut into large chunks. Then cook the sausage. Once the sausage is cooked, remove it and add to the chicken,

Add more oil if needed and saute the onions, garlic and mushrooms for about 3 minutes.

When the onions are softened, re-add the chicken and sausage to the mix. Then add the chicken broth, spinach, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, beans and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and continue to cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the very end of the cooking process, top the stew off with a dash of either lemon juice or lemon olive oil and the Peruvian peppers, if using. Then serve. You can serve it as is, or on top of pasta or rice or potatoes. Buon Appetito!

Happy New Year. Out with the old and in with the new. Stay safe and stay well. I hope 2024 is a good, happy, healthy, prosperous year for all. ’Til next time.