Chicken with Beer, Onions, and Speck

Certainly I can help you with the recipe for chicken with beer, onions, and speck. This dish has a rich and enveloping flavor, with the beer adding a unique aromatic note. Here’s how you can prepare it.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs
• 2 medium onions
• 100 g sliced speck
• 330 ml beer (light or dark according to taste)
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 sprig of rosemary (optional)
• 2 bay leaves (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning and drying the chicken thighs. Season them lightly with salt and pepper on all sides.
2. Slice the onions thinly.
3. Take a large pan and fry the slices of speck in the extra virgin olive oil until they become crispy. Then remove them and set aside.
4. In the same pan, add the chicken thighs and brown them on all sides until golden.
5. Add the sliced onions around the chicken, allowing them to sauté lightly for a few minutes.
6. Pour the beer into the pan, add the rosemary and bay leaves and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let cook for about 30-40 minutes, turning the chicken occasionally and making sure the onions don’t dry out too much.
7. Once the chicken is cooked and the beer has reduced forming a sauce, return the speck to the pan to heat it up.
8. Adjust salt and pepper if necessary.

Serve the chicken hot, perhaps accompanied by a side of roasted potatoes or polenta, and enjoy this flavorful dish.

Trivia

Although the use of beer in cooking is more typical of Nordic countries and German tradition, in Italy it is becoming increasingly popular, taking advantage of the numerous craft beers produced in every region. It is important to choose a beer whose flavor pairs well with the dish. For example, with this dish, you might opt for a slightly malty amber beer that balances well with the smoky flavor of the speck.