Chicken thighs in tomato sauce

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1 onion
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 400 g of tomato puree (or canned tomatoes)
• 1 tablespoon of tomato concentrate
• 1 teaspoon of sugar (if necessary, to balance the acidity of the tomatoes)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano or thyme
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• fresh basil or parsley for garnish

For the corn semolina:

• 200 g of corn semolina (polenta)
• 800 ml of water or vegetable soup base
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 50 g parmesan cheese (optional)
• salt to taste

Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs and sear on both sides until golden brown (about 5-7 minutes per side). Then remove them from the pan.

In the same pan where you roasted the chicken, add the finely chopped onion and garlic and fry them at a low temperature until they soften and become fragrant (about 3-4 minutes). Then add the tomato pulp, tomato concentrate, bay leaf, dry spices (oregano or thyme) and sugar (if you are using very sour tomatoes). Cook for 5-10 minutes to thicken the sauce a bit.

Return the chicken thighs to the pan with the sauce. Reduce the heat, cover the pan and cook on low for 25-30 minutes, until the chicken is completely tender and the sauce has thickened. If necessary, season the sauce with salt and pepper.

Boil water (or vegetable stock) in a large pot and add a pinch of salt. Slowly, stirring constantly, add the polenta to prevent lumps from forming. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the polenta thickens and becomes smooth (about 10-15 minutes, depending on the type of polenta).

When the polenta is cooked, stir in the butter and grated Parmesan cheese (if using) and add a little salt to taste. Mix well until the polenta becomes creamy.

Serve the creamy polenta on a plate and place the chicken thighs on it. Pour a generous amount of tomato sauce over everything. Garnish the dish with freshly chopped parsley or basil for extra freshness.

Tips:

• If desired, you can add a little chili for a hot touch in the sauce.
• For a richer tomato sauce, you can also add diced pepper or carrot.