This recipe from NYT Cooking combines chicken braised in tomato sauce with crispy pancetta and melted mozzarella. Cook the pancetta and set aside. Sear the chicken and set it aside. Cook garlic, anchovy fillets and hot pepper flakes briefly, then add tomatoes and basil. Cook the sauce for about 10 minutes, then return the chicken to the pan and cook until the chicken is done. Top the chicken with cheese and broil until the cheese melts. Garnish with the pancetta and chopped basil and serve.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Look for pancetta preserved with celery salt instead of nitrites. Unico anchovies and canned tomatoes are additive-free. Check the hot pepper flakes to make sure they don’t contain colour or anti-caking agents. I used Tre Stelle bocconcini.

After cooking pancetta and searing the chicken, thicken the sauce

Return chicken to pan and simmer until it's done

Top with cheese and broil until it melts; serve garnished with pancetta and basil

Ingredients:

3 ½ pounds (1.58 kg) bone-in chicken pieces (or use a 3 ½  pound/1.58 kg) chicken cut into 8 pieces)

2 teaspoons (10 ml) kosher salt

1 teaspoon (5 ml) black pepper

1 tablespoon(15 ml) extra-virgin olive oil

5 ounces (140 g) pancetta, diced

3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

2 anchovy fillets

¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) red pepper flakes

1 (28-ounce/793 g) can whole plum tomatoes

1 large basil sprig, plus more chopped basil for serving

8 ounces (226 g) bocconcini, halved (or use mozzarella cut into ¾ inch/1.9 cm pieces)

Preparation:

Heat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C). Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.

In a large oven-proof skillet, warm oil over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and cook, stirring frequently, until browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pancetta to a paper-towel-lined plate.

Add chicken to skillet. Sear, turning only occasionally, until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a large plate. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon (15 ml) oil.

Add garlic, anchovy and red pepper flakes to skillet; fry 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes and basil. Cook, breaking up tomatoes with a spatula, until sauce thickens somewhat, about 10 minutes.

Return chicken to skillet. Transfer skillet to oven and cook, uncovered, until chicken is no longer pink, about 30 minutes.

Scatter bocconcini or mozzarella pieces over skillet. Adjust oven temperature to broil. Return skillet to oven and broil until cheese is melted and bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes (watch carefully to see that it does not burn). Garnish with pancetta and chopped basil before serving. Serves 4.

From NYT Cooking