The Best Chicken Recipe:
Let me preface this post by saying that this recipe is a definite keeper! I first made this recipe many years ago for a family Christmas dinner. Chicken cooked in a lot of wine sounded great to all of us, and we were extremely happy with how it turned out. I’ve made this Coq au Zin recipe many, many times since then. It’s the kind of recipe that is perfect to make for a special occasion or when you just feel like making a really delicious chicken dinner.
Ingredients needed:
all purpose flour bacon olive oil bone-in chicken thighs shallots garlic pearl onions crimini mushrooms fresh marjoram bottle of red Zinfandel chicken broth butter fresh chives
How to make Coq au Zin:
Chopped bacon is sautéed until crisp. I use center cut bacon (more meat, less fat). The bacon is removed to a towel-lined plate. The grease is left in the pan. Flour-dusted chicken is browned in the bacon fat on both sides, and then it’s removed to a casserole dish to await additions.
Shallots are sautéed with garlic, crimini mushrooms, pearl onions and fresh marjoram. A bottle of red zinfandel is added to the mushroom mixture, along with chicken stock and the reserved bacon.
This mixture is then poured on top of the chicken in the glass baking dishes. The pans are covered tightly with foil and then placed into the oven where the Coq au Zin has a chance to simmer in that wonderful liquid for an hour.
The chicken is then removed from the pan to a platter, along with the strained vegetables. The remaining liquid is left to simmer for a short time and is thickened with a butter/flour mixture.
You’re likely to have a good amount of sauce, so place the chicken and veggies into a large serving bowl or deep platter, and pour the sauce on top. Then sprinkle on fresh chives. The liquid helps the Coq au Zin to stay warm on the table and it keeps it moist and tender.
Everyone I make this chicken for wants seconds (and the leftovers are great too!) It’s not often that you can really rave about a chicken recipe, but this one is utterly delicious. It would be a great recipe for a gourmet dinner club party too. Serve with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Oven Roasted Green Beans. My friend chef Dennis has a great recipe for Coq au Vin for two, if there are just two of you. Enjoy!
