Circassian Chicken

1 chicken, about 3 lbs or 1.5 kg
1 large onion, quartered
2 sprigs parsley
3 cups cold water
salt
pepper
3 slices stale white bread, crusts removed
1 1/2 cups finely ground walnuts
1/2 tsp paprika
1 clove garlic, crushed (optional)

For Serving-
1 tbsp walnut oil (can get in health food stores.. expensive)
1/2 tsp paprika
finely chopped parsley, (optional)

1. Place chicken in a medium-sized pan with onion, carrot, parsley and
 water.  Bring to a slow simmer, skimming when necessary.  Add 1 1/2 
tsp salt and pepper to taste.  Cover and simmer gently for 1 1/2 hours 
- do not boil as this makes the flesh stringy.

2. Cool a little, then remove chicken to a plate.  Strip off flesh,
 returning skin and bones to a pan.  Boil stock with bones and skin 
until reduced by half.  Strain and reserve stock.

3.  Cut chicken meat into 5 cm (2 inch) strips and place in a bowl. 
 Moisten with 2 tbsp stock, cover, and chill.

4.  Soak bread in a little chicken stock, squeeze and crumble into a
 bowl.  Add walnuts, paprika, and garlic if used.  Combine and pass 
through a food grinder using a fine screen, or process in the food
 processor or blender.

5.  Slowly beat in 1 cup warm chicken stock, adding a little more if
 necessary  to make a smooth thick sauce.  Adjust seasoning with salt
 and pepper.

6.  Mix a third of the walnut sauce gently into chicken.  Shape chicken
 mixture into an attractive mound on a shallow dish and spread
 remaining sauce over it.  Cover lightly with plastic wrap and chill.

7.  Steep paprika in walnut oil for 10 minuteso r longer and drizzle
 over the top just before serving.  Garnigh with chopped parsley if
desired.  Serve cold with salad accompaniments.

*note to make own walnut oil--
To extract oil from walnuts, chop shelled walnuts roughly and press a
 few pieces at a time in a garlic press.  For 1 tbsp of oil, you will 
require 6-7 walnuts.  In Turkey the chopped nuts are enclosed in butter
 muslin and squeezed, but the press is much easier.  

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