Literally translated it means "chicken in wine" and was the first "gourmet" recipe I tried before becoming a chef. It was sent to me by my sister-in-law, Barb, who was living in Switzerland at the time. It is a prime example of French Bistro cooking at it's best. The only change I've made is using Balsamic vinegar in place of red wine vinegar.
COQ au VIN
Serves: 6 Difficulty Level: 2 (of 5) Prep Time: 20 minutes Ready In: < 3 hours
INGREDIENTS:
For the Chicken:
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 (4 pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces (or buy a cut up chicken)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, lightly seasoned with salt and pepper
For the Sauce:
• 1/3 cup brandy
• 3 cups red wine
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 Tablespoon coarse ground Dijon-style mustard
• About 36 red or yellow pearl onions, peeled
• 1 (16 ounce) can chopped tomatoes with their juice
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 pound baby carrots, scraped
• 3 ribs of celery, cut on the diagonal into 1/4-inch pieces
• 3 cups sliced button mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
PROCEDURE:
For the Chicken:
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a 5-1/2-quart Dutch oven heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until sizzling. Dredge the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour and then place 3 or 4 pieces in the hot oil, skin side down. Brown the chicken in batches, turning, until lightly browned on all sides. Do not overcrowd the pan with chicken or you will not get a nice browning of the skin. Transfer the chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
For the Sauce:
• Return the Dutch oven to the heat and add the brandy (tip pan away from your face)to deglaze. With a wooden spoon, scrape up any browned bits that have collected in the pan. Stir in the red wine, chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, mustard, pearl onions, chopped tomatoes, garlic, carrots, celery, mushrooms, rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, add the chicken to the pan, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and place in the oven. Bake, gently stirring every 20 minutes or so, for 2 hours, or until the chicken is very tender.
To Serve:
• Transfer the chicken pieces to a serving platter. Place the Dutch oven on the stove top and bring to a boil. Reduce the sauce on top of the stove until it is nicely thickened, about 8 to 10 minutes. Ladle the sauce and vegetables over the chicken and top with the chopped parsley. Serve at once.
A little loaf of crusty French bread is essential to soak up the wonderful sauce and a little wine will complete this meal...
Enjoy,
CHEF PHIL
