Ingredients
Picada:
1/4 cup dry unsalted Marcona almonds or blanched almonds
2 tablespoons EVOO
2 slices (1/2-inch thick) batard or baguette (reserve the rest of the loaf for serving)
1/3 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped
Stew:
3 tablespoons EVOO
2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
2 rounded tablespoons paprika
2 to 3 stalks celery with leafy tops, peeled and chopped
2 bay leaves
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 Fresno or other red chile pepper, finely chopped
Pinch saffron threads
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
One 32-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
4 cups chicken stock
3 to 4 cups shredded Poached Chicken Breasts, recipe follows
1 cup Spanish green olives, coarsely chopped
Bread, for serving
Poached Chicken Breasts:
4 whole bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (for all white meat) or 3 whole 4-pound chickens (for a mix of white and dark meat)
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
8 cloves garlic, smashed
4 large bay leaves
4 carrots, coarsely chopped
4 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
2 lemons, sliced
2 onions, quartered
Herb bundle of fresh parsley, rosemary and thyme tied with kitchen string
Kosher salt
Preparation
For the picada: Toast the nuts in a small skillet, then remove to a plate. Add the EVOO to the skillet and toast the bread slices until golden. Chop the bread and add to a food processor along with the parsley, lemon juice, garlic, toasted almonds and a splash of water. Pulse until the mixture is a pesto-like consistency. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
For the stew: Heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the thyme, paprika, celery, bay leaves, carrots, onions, bell peppers, chile peppers and saffron and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables are soft, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and mash. Add the stock and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in the chicken. Stir in the picada and olives, then remove f
