Coq Au Vin
Cuisine: French
Categories: One-Pot Meals & Chicken
Recipe Source: Daniel Gritzer
Coq au Vin is a classic French dish that translates to "rooster in wine," but is typically made with chicken. This rustic and flavorful stew features tender chicken braised in red wine, often Burgundy, with lardons or bacon, mushrooms, onions, and garlic. The chicken simmers in the rich wine sauce, absorbing the deep flavors and becoming incredibly tender. Herbs like thyme and bay leaf add aromatic complexity, while often a touch of brandy adds depth. Coq au Vin is a hearty and comforting dish, perfect for a cozy evening or a special occasion dinner.
Difficulty: EASY
Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours
Serving Size: 6 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 whole small chickens, each chicken cut into 4 pieces, backbones reserved for stock
- 2 cups dry red wine
- 8 ounces pearl onions
- 1/4 pound slab bacon or salt pork, cut into 1- by 1/4- by 1/4-inch sticks
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 8 ounces button or cremini mushrooms, woody stems trimmed if necessary, quartered
- 3 medium carrots, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 4 medium cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups homemade chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup minced flat-leaf parsley
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Add chicken to a 1-gallon zipper-lock bag. Pour in wine and seal bag, pressing out air. Let stand while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- Using a paring knife, trim off the ends of each onion and score a light "X" into one cut side. Bring a small pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add onions and cook until outer layers are soft, about 1 1/2 minutes. Drain onions and run under cool water until cold enough to handle. Peel onions with your fingers and discard peels.
- In a large Dutch oven or rondeau, cook bacon over medium-high heat, stirring and reducing heat as necessary to prevent scorching, until browned and fat has rendered, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and, using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Remove chicken from zipper-lock bag, reserving wine, and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper. Return Dutch oven with rendered bacon fat to medium-high heat and, working in batches, add chicken, skin side down, and cook until browned, about 7 minutes. Turn and brown other side, about 5 minutes. Transfer browned chicken to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Reserve at room temperature.
- Once all chicken is browned, add mushrooms to Dutch oven and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Add pearl onions, carrots, and garlic and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add bacon, wine, thyme, and bay leaves and bring to a simmer, stirring up any browned bits.
- Stir in stock. Add chicken legs skin side up, nestling them into the Dutch oven so that they are partially submerged but top of skin is above the liquid. Pour in any accumulated juices from chicken. Transfer to oven and cook, uncovered, for 1 hour.
- 7. Add chicken breasts, nestling them skin side up amongst the legs, and return to the oven. Cook until breasts are just cooked through (they should register 145 to 150°F on an instant read thermometer), about 20 minutes.
- 8. Transfer chicken breasts and legs to a clean rack set over a rimmed backing sheet. Set Dutch oven over medium-low heat and simmer until sauce is lightly viscous, about 10 minutes. Whisk in butter, then season with salt (if necessary) and pepper. Stir in half of parsley.
- 9. Return chicken to pot, spooning sauce on top. Garnish with remaining parsley. Serve right away with buttered potatoes, pasta, or rice.