Sweet Red Pepper Mama Sauce

Inspired from an episode of "Fresh" with Anna Olsen, where she braised chicken thighs in a pureed red pepper sauce.

Basic Recipe:

olive oil
two onions, rough chop (will be purreed later)
1 celery stalk, rough chop
two red peppers, roasted. rough chop
two cloves of garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 bay leaves
sprig of thyme
salt and pepper
2 tbsp cold butter

1. In a wide saucepan like a dutch oven, heat the olive oil and sautee the onions and celery. Don't have the heat too high, you're looking for a sweat, not a browning.  
2. When close to translucent, add the peppers and garlic, chicken stock, bay leaves and thyme.  
3. Simmer for 1/2 hour, covered.  
4. When done remove the bay leaves and thyme and use an immersion blender (boat  motor) to puree the sauce very very smooth.  
5. Taste and season with salt and pepper.  
6. Add the cold butter and stir constantly until incorporated - this will make it glossy and a bit thicker.

So, what can you do with it?

Idea 1: Braised Chicken Thighs

Similar to our original inspiration, brown boneless chicken legs in olive oil (dredge in flour first).  Add it to the sauce at Step 3 (simmering).  Simmer until the chicken is done (30-45 minutes  depending on size of pieces).  Remove the chicken to a platter at step 4, before  pureeing the sauce.  Add the chicken pieces back in to the sauce after incorporating the butter (Step 6).

Idea 2: As a sauce with fish fillets, either seared or baked

Idea 3: As a sauce over steamed mussels

Flavour variations

Make it Curry: Adding 1 tbsp curry powder at Step 1 to make a light and healthy curry sauce.

Make it Spicy: Add 1 chili pepper (use your own judgement here...) to the sauce at Step 2.