Greek Kapama Recipes

KAPAMAS - LAMB IN AROMATIC TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large heavy stewing pot, heat olive oil and cook lamb, turning it frequently on all sides to brown evenly and lightly. Add the onion and sauté, stirring with a wooden spoon, until wilted.
• "Extinguish" the pot, as the Greeks say -- deglaze, in other words -- with the brandy by pouring it into the pot. Add the tomatoes, allspice, bay leaves, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Stir well with a wooden spoon to blend. Add, if necessary, enough water just to cover the meat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 1 hour 15 minutes, or until meat is almost cooked. Add more water, if necessary, during cooking to keep mixture moist and sauce from reducing too much.
• About 10 minutes before meat is done, Adjust seasoning if necessary, and stir in the parsley just before removing from heat. Serve with saffron rice.

EASY CHICKEN KAPAMA

Steps:

• Season chicken well on both sides with salt and pepper and sprinkle with the ground cinnamon. In a large skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, cook the chicken until it begins to lightly brown in spots, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Set aside. (If it's not cooked through at this point, that's O.K.)
• Add the onion and the garlic to the skillet and cook until the onion begins to soften and the garlic is fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt.
• Stir in the tomato paste, tomatoes, 1/4 cup water and the cinnamon stick(s). Add the chicken and any residual juices, stir to coat with the sauce and bring to a simmer. Turn heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the flavors meld, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes. Add a few tablespoons water if needed to thin out the sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.
• Serve the chicken over buttered egg noodles or orzo, if using, spooning the tomato sauce on top. Top with the herbs and grated cheese, if using.

CHICKEN KAPAMA - GREEK BRAISED CHICKEN IN SPICED TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325F
• Pat chicken thighs dry and season them with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• In a heated 7-9 quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat, brown the chicken in 1 tablespoon of olive oil for 5-7 minutes per side. Work in batches if needed, as as to not crowd the pan. Transfer the chicken to a plate. Drain any excess fat from the pot.
• Return the pot to the heat and heat the remaining olive oil.
• Add the onion and stir. Cook for 5 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
• Add the carrots, celery, garlic, and ground cinnamon (if using cinnamon sticks, wait to add them). Cook for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the wine, vinegar, honey, and tomato paste. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, until reduced by half.
• Add crushed tomatoes and cook 5 minutes more.
• Return the chicken to the pot. Cover it with the chicken broth, add bay leaves and cinnamon sticks (if using). Pour in chicken broth or water. Stir to combine.
• Bing contents of the pot to boil. Cover the pot and place in the oven. Braise for 2 hours, or until tender.
• Serve over your favorite rice, potatoes, or pasta.

ATHENA'S KOTO KAPAMA (GREEK STEWED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Mix salt, pepper and cinnamon in small bowl; rub chicken pieces with salt mixture.
• Heat oil in 11-inch skillet with high sides over high heat until hot. Add chicken, skin side down. Cook 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until brown. (Cook chicken in 2 batches if pan is too small for chicken to brown properly.).
• Remove chicken from skillet and place on plate; keep warm. Reduce heat to medium-high. Add onion and 1 tablespoon garlic. Cook 3 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally.
• Add wine and scrape bottom of skillet with wooden spoon to loosen any cooked-on brown bits. Continue cooking until wine has evaporated. Add undrained tomatoes, remaining garlic and oregano to skillet; stir.
• Return chicken, skin side down, and juices to skillet. Cover; reduce heat to low. Cook slowly 25 to 30 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink.
• Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm. Stir tomato paste into sauce. Cook uncovered over medium heat 10 minutes or until sauce reduces by about half.
• Serve chicken with sauce. Sprinkle each serving with cheese, if desired.

GREEK CHICKEN KAPAMA

Steps:

• Sauté onion, garlic, celery and butter 'till tender.
• Add tomatoes, tomato paste, water, parsley, red pepper, garlic powder, oregano, black pepper, cinnamon and red wine.
• Then add giblets.
• Brown chicken and add to sauce.
• Simmer for 2-3 hours.
• -----------For the pasta --------------.
• Boil ziti aldente.
• Brown butter.
• Layer parmesan cheese and butter then bake for 15 minutes.