Chicken with Spring Vegetables and Pancetta

Chicken is inherently delicate, and that quality is conveyed beautifully in this light dish with accents of pearl onion and peas.

Makes 4 to 6 servings | Prep time: 20 minutes | Minimum cook time: 31/4 hours in a medium slow cooker

1 (3- to 4-pound) chicken, cut into serving pieces, or 6 chicken pieces of your choice

1 tablespoon olive oil

3/4 cup diced pancetta

2 shallots, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced (optional)

2 cups Chicken Stock or purchased stock

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried

1 bay leaf

1 (10-ounce) package frozen pearl onions, thawed

1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas, thawed

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1. Preheat the oven broiler, and line a broiler pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Broil chicken pieces for 3 minutes per side, or until browned. Transfer chicken pieces to the slow cooker, skin side down.

2. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add pancetta, and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until pancetta is brown. Remove pancetta from the skillet with a slotted spoon, and place it in the slow cooker. Add shallots and garlic, if using, to the skillet, and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes, or until shallots are translucent. Scrape mixture into the slow cooker.

2. Add stock, parsley, rosemary, and bay leaf to the slow cooker, and stir well. Cook on Low for 5 to 7 hours or on High for 21/2 to 3 hours, or until chicken is almost cooked through.

3. If cooking on Low, raise the heat to High. Add onions and peas, and cook for 45 to 55 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through, tender, and no longer pink, and mixture is bubbling. Remove and discard bay leaf, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve hot.

Note: The dish can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated, tightly covered. Reheat it, covered, in a 350°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until hot.

Variation:

images Substitute frozen artichoke hearts for the peas.

While pancetta is now available in just about every North American supermarket, if you can’t find it, you can always substitute bacon. Try to find a bacon that is not heavily smoked or cured.