Coq Au Vin (Chicken in Wine)

“This recipe is SO good. Bridget brought it to our French-themed Shacklett Lab holiday party. It’s best with chicken legs and thighs, and any old red wine will do, even the cheap stuff. Don’t worry that this makes a lot of food; you’ll be surprised how fast it goes. Besides, it freezes well.” – April Ferre

Print Recipe

Coq Au Vin (Chicken in Red Wine)

Course: Main Courses – Poultry
Cuisine: French

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 8 Ounces Bacon or Salt Pork
  • 6 Pounds Chicken
  • 1 Pound Carrots
  • 2 Medium Onions
  • 1 Pound Red Potatoes
  • 8 Large Cloves Garlic
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter
  • 2 Pounds White Mushrooms
  • 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
  • 2 Cups Chicken Broth
  • 2 Cups Red Wine
  • 1/4 Cup Cognac or Brandy
  • 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
  • 1 Tablespoon Red Currant Jelly
  • 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Fresh Thyme
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • 6 Tablespoons Parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat olive oil in Dutch oven, add salt pork (diced) and cook until fat is rendered and pork is crispy, about 10 minutes. Remove to paper towel. Brown chicken (skin on, legs and thighs preferred) in pork fat, approximately 4 minutes a side. Remove to two 9×13-inch pans and set aside.
  • Add carrots (sliced), onions (coarsely chopped), and potatoes (diced) and cook over medium low heat until just browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic (finely chopped) and cook 5 minutes longer. Add butter and mushrooms (quartered) and cook another 5 minutes.
  • Sprinkle the vegetables with cornstarch and cook over medium heat 1 minute. Add chicken broth, red wine (full-bodied, such as Burgundy) and Cognac. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Add more cornstarch prepared with water, as needed. Stir in tomato paste, jelly, brown sugar, thyme, bay leaves, and pepper. Fold in salt pork.
  • Pour vegetables over chicken, making sure 1 bay leaf ends up in each pan. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Remove cover, and stir briefly. Return to oven and bake uncovered 30 minutes more. Remove bay leaves and fold in parsley (chopped) and serve hot over rice (preferred) or egg noodles. Serves 6 to 8.

2009 Recipe – Bridget McLaughlin – From All Around the World Cookbook by Sheila Lukins, 1994

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