Mme Maigrets Coq Au Vin Recipes

Steps:

• Finely slice a carrot, a leek and an onion. Cut up a chicken of about 2kg into pieces. Put the vegetables, a bouquet of parsley and the chicken bones and skin into a pot. Add 300ml water and simmer for 30 minutes to obtain chicken stock.
• Meanwhile cut 2 carrots in round slices and chop 4 shallots and 2 garlic cloves.
• In another pot brown the remaining chicken pieces in 2 tablespoons lard (shortening) over a brisk heat.
• Take these out and put in the carrot slices and the chopped shallots and garlic. Reduce the heat and lightly brown for 10 minutes.
• Put the chicken pieces back into the pot. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon flour and stir.
• Pour over the chicken stock - there should be about 100ml after reduction with the same quantity of Riesling. Season it with salt and pepper, little grated nutmeg and dried thyme.
• Cook for about 90 minutes (depending on the age of chicken).
• Take out the chicken pieces and place them on a warm dish. Thicken the sauce away from the heat with an egg yolk thinned with 100ml single cream.
• Finally, add the juice of lemon and 2 teaspoons sloe brandy. Pour the sauce over the chicken in its pot and serve.

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, combine flour, thyme and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Dip chicken in flour mixture to coat both sides; shake off excess., In a Dutch oven or high-sided skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until golden brown, 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from pan; keep warm. , In same pan, cook mushrooms, carrots, bacon, tomato paste and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt for 2 minutes. Add broth and wine; bring to a boil. Return chicken to pan; reduce heat. Cook until chicken reaches 170° and carrots are just tender, 8-10 minutes. If desired, top with chopped fresh thyme.

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan or flameproof dish. Tip in 3 trimmed and chopped smoked back bacon rashers and fry until crisp. Remove and drain on kitchen paper.
• Add 12 peeled shallots to the pan and fry, stirring or shaking the pan often, for 5-8 mins until well browned all over. Remove and set aside with the bacon.
• Take 2 chicken legs, 4 chicken thighs and 2 boneless chicken breasts, all with skin removed and pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Pour ½ tbsp olive oil into the pan, then fry half the chicken pieces, turning regularly, for 5-8 mins until well browned. Remove, then repeat with the remaining chicken. Remove and set aside.
• Scatter in 3 finely chopped garlic cloves and fry briefly, then, with the heat medium-high, pour in 3 tbsp brandy or Cognac, stirring the bottom of the pan to deglaze. The alcohol should sizzle and start to evaporate so there is not much left.
• Return the chicken legs and thighs to the pan along with any juices, then pour in a little of 600ml red wine, stirring the bottom of the pan again.
• Stir in the rest of the wine, 150ml good-quality chicken stock and 2 tsp tomato purée. Drop in 3 thyme sprigs, 2 rosemary sprigs and 2 bay leaves to make a bouquet garni, season with pepper and a pinch of salt, then return the bacon and shallots to the pan.
• Cover, lower the heat to a gentle simmer, add the chicken breasts and cook for 50 mins - 1hr.
• Just before ready to serve, heat 1 ½ tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add 250g chestnut mushrooms, halved if large, and fry over a high heat for a few mins until golden. Remove and keep warm.
• Lift the chicken, shallots and bacon from the pan and transfer to a warmed serving dish. Remove the bouquet garni.
• To make the thickener, mix 2 tbsp plain flour, 1 ½ tsp olive oil and 1 tsp softened butter in a small bowl using the back of a teaspoon.
• Bring the wine mixture to a gentle boil, then gradually drop in small pieces of the thickener, whisking each piece in using a wire whisk. Simmer for 1-2 mins.
• Scatter the mushrooms over the chicken, then pour over the wine sauce. Garnish with a handful of chopped flat-leaf parsley.