Easy Chicken Kapama Recipe (2024)

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Adam

My wife and I loved this recipe. I would definitely recommend using the cinnamon, it really elevates the dish and differentiates it from other red sauce recipes. My paired it with egg noodles, which worked very well. The next time I make this I will likely cut the chicken thighs into smaller pieces to get more browning on the chicken by increasing the surface area.

Austen

Double the garlic and add a diced tomato along with the onions for a little more texture in the sauce, otherwise this recipe is great. Easy enough for a 20-something to cook and tastes great reheated.

Ally 65

My Greek family has enjoyed this dish for years. After Step 3, remove the chicken from the pot and cook the noodles/orzo in the liquid (you may need to add water). Add chicken back to the pot. Grated kefalotyri or Parmesan when serving, as the recipe calls for, makes this next-level!

Dee

As trying to add more veggies to my diet, used less meat (actually a pork tenderloin) and added pre-cooked chickpeas and sliced carrots. Did first steps in the morning and left to stew on low in slow cooker 'till suppertime. Easy and delicious over egg noodles. We all loved the 2 stick cinnamon flavouring.

Valho

Really does taste better after a night in the fridge! Wonderful recipe that I felt was actually quicker than 40 minutes. Definitely adding it to my weekly rotation as I feel like it's pretty healthy too.

Johanna

Greeks rarely if ever use cumin. My Cretan mother’s version was even simpler. Chopped Onions and garlic in olive oil for 20 min over slow heat to melt, not brown. Add tsp of cinnamon. Raise flame and add chicken pieces - stir till meat turns color. Salt and pepper. Add a mix of one can Tomato sauce and same can filled with water. Simmer till done. Served on homemade hilopites (noodles)

Shelley

I made this in the crock pot because I had time in the morning and wanted dinner ready when I returned much later. Used skinless thighs with bones. added the fresh herbs when I started cooking and the same amount again on top when serving.Served over basmati rice because there was no orzo in the house.It was very good, but much better the next day

dougvli

Where is there cumin in this recipe?

Ted

The recipe does not list cumin. Am I missing something?

Maria

I used 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon in the sauce in lieu of the cinnamon sticks, which I couldn't find. (I found a conversion that said 1/4 tsp of ground cinnamon per 2-inch cinnamon stick.) It was excellent.

Flora

Why do people keep talking about cumin? There's none in this recipe. I'm also curious as to how replacing chicken with pork tenderloin in a traditional chicken dish makes it "less meat"?I made it both as written and with skinless boneless breasts another time. Both excellent and yes, better the next day.

Ally

Why are people asking about CUMIN? There is no cumin in ingredients or directions. You use GROUND CINAMMON

SP

This came together quickly and was delicious. I echo others; don't skip the cinnamon. I was out of cumin and used coriander instead to no ill effect.

Christa

I love Colu Henry's recipes! I've been working my way through her Back-Pocket Pasta cookbook! This recipe was super-easy to make and oh-so-fragrant. Used two cinnamon sticks and served over egg noodles. Wonderful--a keeper and a winner.

Joyce Wilson

Very good. Interesting blend of flavors and an easy dish to prepare quickly. I usually cut salt in half in most recipes, but this one definitely needs the salt to bring out the flavors. I ended up serving it over day-old corn bread, and the sauce with the corn bread was amazing. I’ll do that again.

angela

My Greek aunt always used to add the “ABC’s” of Kapama to the sauce- Allspice, Cinnamon, Bayleaf. A little bit of allspice in the sauce kicks up the depth of flavor a notch. A little squeeze of lemon on the cheese chicken after browning adds a brightness.

paperball

I read all the comments about much better this recipe was the next day...and yet I was totally unprepared for HOW good it was the second day.

JT

Love this recipe. Use 2 - 14 oz cans fire roasted diced tomatoes eliminating the water. Also adding 8 oz of mushrooms is a nice addition.

KB

Made this with skin on and bone in chicken. Took about an hour and 15 minutes to simmer. But still came out pretty good! I’m curious how the flavors with differ if I made with skinless boneless chicken.

PDXTauna

Would it be best to make the sauce a day before a dinner party, then brown and braise the fresh chicken thighs the next day in the sauce? Wanting to make sure the chicken does not dry out in the finished dish overnight.

Cheryl Morrison

A bit too bland but still good.

Lionel

I made the recipe as written. It was delicious.Having said that, there are two changes I will make next time: Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and I will not add water until I see that it needs it. Otherwise, excellent recipe.

Julie

Great and easy recipe. I think next time I'll use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs since that's my preference. I did dice up the chicken before adding it to the pan since I thought that would be easier. I also didnt have any fresh herbs on hand so towards the end I added dried parsley and oreganp. Overall I loved it and thought the flavors were interesting together.

Morgan

Really loved this. Added some bell pepper to get more veggies, and loaded up on parmesan. Next time I’ll add some crushed red pepper for a bit of a kick—the cinnamon added a nice depth but I felt there was something missing.

Veronica

Great recipe- but would brown butter over egg noodles/orzo or percatelli. Grew up with percatelli being coated in brown butter which really makes this dish even more delicious!

Maria

It was a bit bland, even with a lot of sharp aged greek cheese and extra garlic. I used traditional greek Tarhana pasta (Τραχανάς - I found it at my local street market), which sort of blended into the sauce and turned into a thick stew. Maybe next time I'd use more spices in addition to cinnamon - nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and definitely more chilli.

PeterW

I paired this up with Greek sautéed fresh garden vegetables and farro. I used boneless chicken breast and reduced the cooking time. The chicken came out moist and tender, and the sauce is out of this world. I saw another kapama recipe online by someone named Dmitri -- so he must know what he's talking about ;-) -- and he suggested adding a small amount of sugar or honey if the tomatoes are too acidic. I might experiment with this, but you definitely don't want it sweet.

Amber

Meh meh meh meh meh. Maybe it comes together fast but it really misses the mark on flavor.

Meli

A family favorite, I've made a version of this recipe dozens of times with the addition of 1/4 - 1/2 cup of red wine - a must. Can also add allspice (opt) and a slice of orange peel for added flavor.

Adjustments

I bought a Costco package of chicken thighs and prepared the entire 6 pounds of chicken using a tripled recipe. The raw meat was swimming in juice after opening the packaging, so I drained and patted it dry before starting to season and cook it. At the end, there was excessive tomato gravy to somehow use up, maybe by adding it to a home made vegetable soup. It was a tasty dish benefitting from what seemed like a lot of salt and pepper in the final stages.

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Easy Chicken Kapama Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of Kapama? ›

Noun. kapama f (Cyrillic spelling капама) A dish containing green vegetables and often meat, most commonly lamb.

What do you soak chicken in before cooking? ›

Water: This simple chicken brine starts with a gallon of warm water. Salt: Kosher salt tenderizes the meat, helps it retain moisture, and adds flavor. Soy sauce: Soy sauce lends even more salt and flavor. Sugar: White sugar adds subtle sweetness and helps promote browning.

Where does the Kapama dish come from? ›

This is a traditional Balkan dish, which is usually prepared during the winter holidays. Many gourmets believe that the origin of this nutritious meat dish is precisely from Bansko. The dish, of course, is also a mandatory element of the winter pleasures offered in Bansko.

What are the 3 main ingredients when marinating? ›

A typical marinade is made up of three essential components: an acid (such as vinegar, wine, or citrus), an oil (such as olive oil or sesame oil), and a flavouring agent (such as herbs and spices).

What do Chinese soak their chicken in? ›

Velveting meat is a Chinese cooking technique used in Chinese restaurants. The process of velveting is one where you marinate raw meat in cornstarch and egg white or bicarbonate of soda to give it a soft, slippery, velvety texture.

Why do you soak chicken in vinegar? ›

Flavor Enhancement: Soaking chicken in a mixture of vinegar and lemon juice can add a tangy and slightly acidic flavor to the meat. This can be desirable if you enjoy that taste profile in your dish.

Should you soak chicken before cooking? ›

This is a personal preference and serves no purpose for food safety. If you choose to do this, however, preventing cross-contamination when soaking and removing the poultry from the water is essential. Also, poultry must not be left outside the refrigerator for more than two hours.

What can you soak chicken in to make it tender? ›

Marinades must contain an acid to be effective. Some of our favorites are yogurt, buttermilk, citrus juices, wine or even store bought salad dressings. We love this recipe for Marinated Chicken Breast (pictured above) that calls for any vinegar you have in the pantry.

What do you soak chicken in to clean it? ›

Briefly soaking meat in a solution of baking soda and water raises the pH on the meat's surface, making it more difficult for the proteins to bond excessively, which keeps the meat tender and moist when it's cooked.

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