Splash sherryred wine, or water to deglaze skillet
1small red onionfinely diced
200g| 7oz cherry tomatoeshalved
1-2tbspcapersoptional
8balls of bocconcinimini mozzarella balls
10fresh basil leavesroughly torn
Olive oilas needed
pinchred chilli flakes to serve
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 200C (400F).
Remove any excess skin and fat from the chicken and pat dry.
Mix the olive oil and minced garlic together and brush over the chicken pieces. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Add a tiny splash of oil in a 10in large skillet and pan fry the pepperoni over medium heat until it is crisp.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pepperoni to a towel paper lined plate.
Sear the chicken in the skillet until well browned on both sides - this can take up to 10 minutes.
Transfer to a large plate and pour most of the oil out of the skillet.
Heat the skillet again and add a splash of sherry, wine or water to deglaze the pan, scraping any browned sticky bits with a wooden spoon (they add a lot of flavour).
Add the onions a little olive oil and cook over medium-low heat until onion has softened, about 5 minutes.
Add the cherry tomatoes and capers and cook for another 5 minutes, until they start breaking up and releasing some of their juices.
Nestle the chicken among the tomatoes and transfer to the oven. Cook for 20 minutes, uncovered.
Scatter the bocconcini over the chicken and season with salt and pepper.
Turn on the grill (broiler) and place the skillet near the top to allow the cheese to melt. It only needs a couple of minutes so keep an eye on it!
Add the basil leaves, scatter with chilli flakes and crisp pepperoni and serve with a green salad.