Sometimes the simplest meals are the best. These chicken breasts are the perfect choice for busy weekdays when you want to whip up a hearty hot lunch or dinner in just a few minutes. Thanks to the soy sauce and tomato paste, you’ll get a rich sauce that tastes great with any side dish. Finishing the dish in the oven gives it that extra touch that will have you coming back for seconds.
Ingredients:
- 1 kg chicken breasts
- 2 large onions (sliced)
- 4 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 200 ml water (for braising)
- Spices: crushed caraway, sweet paprika, dried thyme, salt and ground black pepper
OUR TIP: Looking for another quick chicken dish for a weekday? Then you’ll love this quick chicken stir-fry with leeks and garlicky potatoes, which relies on the bold flavors of soy sauce and garlic.
Step-by-step preparation:
1. Marinating the meat
Cut the chicken breasts into thin strips. In a bowl, mix them with soy sauce, caraway, paprika, and thyme. Let the meat rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. If you have time, you can marinate the meat the day before and leave it in the fridge—it will be even more tender.
2. Sautéing in a skillet
Heat oil in a deep skillet and quickly sear the meat on all sides. Then add the sliced onion and sauté together until the onion softens and becomes translucent.
3. Combining the flavors
Add the chopped garlic and tomato paste to the base. Sauté for another 2 minutes so the paste releases its aroma and loses its raw acidity. Pour in about 200 ml of water, stir, and let simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Baking in the oven
Transfer the contents of the skillet to a smaller baking dish or casserole. Place in an oven preheated to 200°C and bake for about 15 minutes. This step creates a light crust on top and thickens the sauce to the perfect consistency.
5. Serving
This chicken mixture is incredibly versatile. Serve it with fluffy rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or dumplings.
Tip for an affordable and luxurious weekend dessert
Looking for something with your coffee that won’t break the bank? These mandarin bars are lightning-fast and you probably have all the ingredients in your fridge.
Do you like this dessert? Find the full recipe here: Greedy Bars with Mandarins
Practical tips for the best result
- Herbs: Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you don’t have thyme, oregano or herbes de Provence work great as well.
- Garlic: Add garlic only at the end of sautéing together with the tomato paste. If you add it at the very beginning, it could turn bitter.
- Sauce: If you like more sauce, you can use chicken broth instead of water when braising and add half a cup more liquid.
