Ostropel de Pui (Romanian Chicken in Tomato and Garlic Sauce)
Chicken thighs and drumsticks braised in a rich, garlicky tomato sauce with paprika and thyme. Perfect over polenta.
- Time1 hr 15
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.88 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 547kcal
- 13.3gcarbs
- 7.8gof which sugars
- 17.6gfat
- 4.9gsaturates
- 81gprotein
- 4.2gfibre
- 2.2gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Pat the chicken dry and season with half the salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a wide heavy pan over a medium high heat and brown the chicken for 4 minutes each side, then lift out onto a plate.
8 min - 2
Add the onions to the same pan and cook for 8 minutes, scraping up the sticky bits, until soft and golden.
8 min - 3
Stir in the garlic, tomato purée and paprika for 1 minute, then pour in the passata and water. Add the thyme, bay leaves and the rest of the salt and pepper.
- 4
Return the chicken, bring to a simmer, cover and cook gently for 35 minutes.
35 min - 5
Take the lid off and cook for 10 more minutes until the sauce is thick and the chicken is tender and pulls easily from the bone, with no pink.
10 min - 6
Scatter with parsley and serve with polenta, mashed potato or crusty bread.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
