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.