Wednesday 9 September 2020

Chicken, Pineapple and Sauerkraut Hotpot

Several readers have asked me about the chicken and sauerkraut dish I mentioned in my IMK post, so I thought I would throw up a quick recipe.  I have no in-progress photos, but nevertheless, here we go.  You can wing it a bit here, using more or less of the pineapple and sauerkraut, as you wish.  Use the herbs you like, and use stock instead of cream if you must.  But really, no, you have to have some cream, so maybe use half stock/half cream, if you feel it necessary.  This is very comforting on a cold winter's night.  So get to it, my friends.  Spring is upon us already!



crispy potatoes on top; ready for cheese, and heading for the oven


Original recipe: Sherry M.


Serves 4-5:


ingredients:


3-4 tbs EV olive oil - two for baking the potato slices, and one or two when cooking the chicken

5-6 large potatoes (about 1 kg./2.2lb), peeled and thinly sliced

1 large brown onion, finely chopped

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2-3 small red chillies, finely chopped

1 kg./2.2lb chicken thigh fillets, each chopped into three pieces

a big splash or two of white wine - optional

1 tsp chicken stock powder

salt and ground black pepper, to taste

a big handful of fresh herbs, chopped (I used parsley) and 1 dsp dried herbs - I used oregano

1 x 440g./15.5 oz tin of pineapple pieces in natural juice, drained - KEEP THE JUICE

400g./14 oz sauerkraut

400mL/13.5 oz cream

1½-2 cups (190g.-250g.) vintage or tasty cheddar cheese, grated


Method:


First, tip the peeled and sliced potatoes into a large bowl, throw in the olive oil and mix with your hands

Place them in a single layer on a lined baking tray (you will need two trays), season with salt and pepper and bake @220C for 20-25 mins. or till golden and even a wee bit charred at the edges

Take them out and put aside while you cook the chook 🐔

Grab a large frypan, pour in the olive oil, chuck in the onion, and stir till tender

Now in goes the garlic and chillies; stir for a few minutes

Add the chicken pieces, and stir for a few more minutes

Splash in the wine and a fair slug of the pineapple juice - use it all if you like

In go the stock powder, salt and pepper

Let it all simmer away for about ten minutes

Add the chopped and dried herbs, and stir in well for a couple of minutes

Now you can put the whole shebang together: take a large baking dish or casserole dish

Spoon the chicken mixture into the dish

Spread the pineapple pieces and sauerkraut over the chicken

Pour on the cream

Layer the potato slices over the top of the dish, add the cheese, then season with salt and pepper

Bake @ 220C for about 25 minutes till the top is golden and the dish is bubbling

Serve with a green salad if you fancy.  Tell yourself it will counteract the artery-hardening delights of this dish :-)


Notes:

Use your fave herbs and cheese here

Maybe try thinly-sliced sweet potato instead of the regular sort 



photo from an earlier, slightly different version

I used my homemade sauerkraut in the latest version of this dish.


spoon on the sauerkraut


deliciously crispy and golden

This is how it comes out from the oven.  Very tasty!  Very crispy!  Very cheesy!  Very delicious!


Veteran readers have read my stories of the mad chooks attacking us in the outdoor dunny when we were children.  And the roast Christmas chicken that slid off the bench and onto the floor, just as it was about to be served.  And the mad Lithuanian neighbour (our friends' father) who used to lop off their heads (the chooks, I mean) and let the headless bodies run amok as we children ran away screaming.  Oh yes, so many happy chook tales!  But this dish will make you happy - guaranteed.



artwork © Sherry's Pickings


34 comments:

  1. The casserole looks super comforting and delicious, Sherry. It would be great to serve with some homemade bread.

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    Replies
    1. thanks angie. there's a lot of potato in it so bread might just tip the eater over the edge:-)

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  2. Sherry
    What is not to love about this hotpot. Comforting and delicious. Loved that you used the homemade sauerkraut. Addition of potatoes indeed is filling and can be enjoyed as a wholesome nutritious dinner. Loved the flavours!

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    Replies
    1. thanks Hasin. it is a tasty and filling dish for sure.

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  3. Thanks for posting this Sherry, it has been pinned. Your Chicken, Pineapple and Sauerkraut Hotpot will be made soon and with cream indeed...

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    1. that's great Ron. i hope you make it and enjoy it!

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  4. This looks really good -- tons of flavor, straightforward to make. Like the idea of the sweet potato variation! Good stuff -- thanks.

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    1. yes i must try the sweet potato version myself some day.

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  5. The end result looks really delicious this hotspot dish with pineapples, Sherry.
    The fresh taste of pineapple mixed with the tenderness of the chicken is a special dish.

    I don't really know what sauerkraut is ... because it's not available in my country.

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    Replies
    1. hi himawan
      nice to see you here. sauerkraut is fermented cabbage. Crunchy and salty so adds a great flavour to this dish. cheers sherry

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  6. This looks amazing!! Love a delicious casserole like this one.

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  7. Probably the most unusual combination I have ever heard of but I bet it is fantastic!

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  8. I am loving the combination of flavours in this hotpot, Sherry! Cooking with sauerkraut is amazing and I love that you make your own. I bet it's super delicious.

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    1. thanks katerina. it's an odd combo but we love it! oh yes homemade sauerkraut is great - a bit tangier and crunchier than in the jar:)

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  9. This chicken casserole with sauerkraut looks delicious! The perfect weeknight dinner!

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    Replies
    1. thanks balvinder. it is a bit of a palaver to make but worth it.

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  10. That one hell of a nice delicious dinner!

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  11. I love the combination of sweet and savory. Looks like a tasty meal! Thank you for sharing Sherry.

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  12. This sounds great - I love pineapple and sauerkraut so I bet I would love this.

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  13. Hah-you've got quite a few chook stories, Sherry! I will say that this sounds like a fantastic dinner. Sauerkraut is something that I've only recently realized that I like - and now I can't get enough of it. This definitely needs to appear in my kitchen!

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    1. oh yes david. plenty of chook stories. isn't sauerkraut great? and so good for your gut.

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  14. Chicken and pineapple, sure ... on a pizza! But I've never thought to pair these with sourkraut - homemade kraut, no less. What a fantastic-sounding hot pot!

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    Replies
    1. it all started years ago when i had these things in the fridge ...

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  15. We really love sauerkraut but I have never attempted to make it myself. I did buy a sauerkraut maker two years ago but haven't attempted using it. Everything you made looks really good!

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    Replies
    1. hi judee
      it is very easy to make and tastes better than shop-bought. give it a go. the sauerkraut i mean:)

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  16. Hello Sherry, So glad to have found your blog, great collections of recipes. These chicken and pineapple Hotpot looks delicious, perfect golden color and cheesy. Love the pineapple chunks used in the recipe, Sauerkraut are new to me, seems interesting. Thank you for sharing this.

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    Replies
    1. hi aarthi
      sauerkraut is fermented cabbage and is delicious. crunchy and salty, and great with bacon etc...

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  17. Wow pineapple, sauerkraut and cream in one dish-sounds very interesting! Thanks for sharing the recipe Sherry! :D

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